CM Revanth Plans to Complete Rythu Bharosa Payments

Hyderabad: The state government is making preparations to disburse Rythu Bharosa to farmers owning between four and 10 acres of land, for the rabi season by the last week of May. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed the finance department to arrange necessary funds, sources said. The Chief Minister is also expected to convene a review meeting on Rythu Bharosa within the next week, where further clarity on the disbursement process is expected.

The state government began disbursing funds under the Rythu Bharosa for the rabi season on January 26, Republic Day. The second phase of payments was made on February 5 and the third phase on February 11.

In the first three phases, farmers owning up to four acres were covered. In the fourth phase, the government plans to extend the benefit to farmers owning more than four acres, with those owning up to 10 acres being included in phases.

Under Rythu Bharosa, the Congress government has increased the pay-out to Rs 6,000 per acre per season, from Rs 5,000 provided under the BRS regime's Rythu Bandhu.

Revanth Reddy had promised to complete payments for all farmers by March 31. However, the government missed the deadline, with payments only reaching farmers owning up to four acres. No further funds have been released for the scheme since March.

In the first phase, which began on January 26, around 4.41 lakh farmers received Rs 569 crore. In the second phase, on February 5, about 17.03 lakh farmers were provided Rs 558 crore, and in the third phase, on February 11, approximately 13.24 lakh farmers received Rs 1,092 crore.

Around 35 lakh farmers, owning more than 4 acres each, are still awaiting their Rythu Bharosa payments for the rabi season. The upcoming kharif season is set to begin in June and the state government plans to begin disbursing Rythu Bharosa payments for kharif from July, after completing the rabi season disbursements in June.