Ponnam Opens Paddy Procurement Centre, Vows Prompt Payments
The minister announced a bonus of ₹500 per quintal for fine variety paddy and urged farmers not to sell their produce outside the government procurement system
KARIMNAGAR: Transport and backward class welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Wednesday inaugurated a paddy procurement centre in Saidapur mandal of Husnabad constituency in Karimnagar district, assuring farmers of fair weighing practices and timely payments.
Speaking at the event, the minister announced a bonus of ₹500 per quintal for fine variety paddy and urged farmers not to sell their produce outside the government procurement system. He emphasised that the same paddy is being used to supply fine rice through the Public Distribution System (PDS), with Telangana being the first state to offer fine rice under PDS.
Prabhakar also highlighted other welfare measures being implemented by the Congress government, including 200 units of free electricity, a ₹500 subsidy on cooking gas, and a full farm loan waiver.
Later, at a programme in the mandal headquarters, the minister distributed Kalyana Lakshmi cheques of ₹1,16,000 each to 60 beneficiaries under the state's financial assistance scheme for brides. A total of 168 cheques have been sanctioned for Saidapur mandal, he added.
Addressing educational support, Prabhakar noted the recent increase in mess and cosmetic allowances for students in Gurukulam institutions. On land reforms, he said the newly introduced Bhu Bharati Act — which replaces the Dharani portal — will resolve land disputes and restore land dignity for farmers. Awareness programmes on the new system will be held across mandals from April 23 to 29.
The minister also spoke about key initiatives, including the historic SC bifurcation act, the BC caste census, and new reservation legislation. He said the Indiramma Housing Scheme is being implemented transparently, with 3,500 houses to be allocated in each constituency in the first phase.
The event was attended by additional collector Lakshmi Kiran, Saidapur Market Committee chairman Donta Sudhakar, cooperative society president Kotha Tirupati Reddy, RDO Ramesh, and other senior Congress leaders and officials.
