NE NEWS SERVICE
AMARAVATI, MAY 14
As promised by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the first installment of YSR Rythu Bharosa-PM Kisan scheme will be transferred to the farmers’ bank accounts on May 15, said a release from the office of the Chief Minister on Thursday.
Despite severe financial constraints being faced due to COVID-19 pandemic, the government will live up to its image of being farmer-friendly, it says.
About 49 lakh farmers will be benefited by the YSR Rythu Bharosa-PM Kisan scheme under which the first installment would be credited into the farmers’ bank account as an incentive ahead of the khariff season.
For the second year in a row, farmers will get financial assistance of Rs 13,500 per annum in three installments, first being Rs 7500, followed by Rs 4000 as second installment to be released in October and the final installment of Rs 2000 will be credited on the day of Sankranti.
The amount to be credited in the first installment is Rs 3,675 crores. As Rs 2,000 was already credited in to farmers’ accounts in April and the remaining Rs 5,500 would be delivered on May 15. This is for the financial year 2020-21.
The scheme is applicable to the tenant farmers belonging to SC, ST, BC and Minorities and those farming endowment and forest lands as well, the release said.
Rythu Bharosa is one of the nine major promises of Navaratnalu made by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy during his padayatra. Despite facing a financial crunch and emergency situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping up the poll promise, the State government is all set for crediting the first installment of Rythu Bharosa.
During 2019-20 the State government spent Rs 6534 Crore towards Rythu Bharosa PM Kisan by paying all the three installments.
Initially, the scheme was to provide Rs 12,500 per annum for four years. However, keeping the farmer welfare in view, the Chief Minister increased the financial assistance from Rs 12,500 to Rs 13,500 for a period of five years instead of four years as the government was formed in June after the sowing season in May. In addition to this, the State government has set up a helpline 1902 for farmers to get updated on farm related issues.
Besides supporting with financial assistance, the State government went a step ahead to launch 10,641 Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBK) May 30, to back-up the farmers on various issues.
The RBKs will offer all agriculture and allied related services from a single platform and also function as crop procurement centre. RBKs will have digital kiosks and smart TVs to help the farmers to stay updated about the latest developments in their fields and get expert advice on market dynamics, new techniques to maximise their crop yield and many more.
