Instalments beat poll code deadline

Amaravati: Of late, politics in Andhra Pradesh are revolving around BCs, farmers and self-help groups (SHGs). All parties are vying with each other in wooing these sections.

With poll scenario becoming clear that the fight is going to be between the TDP and the main Opposition YSRCP; of course, the Congress, BJP and Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena are also there in the field. The ruling TDP is not taking any chance and is making strategic moves to ensure that they reach out to all sections through governmental programmes. 

Anticipating that the Election Commission would announce the schedule for the MLC polls, the state government on Monday transferred a token amount of Rs 1000 into the accounts of all eligible farmers under the Annadata Sukhibhava programme. 

The state government had earlier announced that it would pay Rs 15,000 annually to each family of farmers and this would include the Rs 6,000 being given by the Central government through PM-KISAN. The state government has also announced that Rs 10,000 would be given to tenant farmers and landlords who hold more than five acres.  

The government has decided to organise huge public meetings for farmers on the lines of Pasupu Kumkuma meetings held for SHGs to give a dole of Rs 10,000 per member of SHGs and distribute the cheques to beneficiaries under the Annadata Sukhibhava programme across the state. While Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the meeting on Wednesday, simultaneous meetings will be held in districts where ministers and MLAs will distribute the cheques.

Since the state government has already rolled out the scheme by transferring the first instalment of Rs 1,000, it will not be a violation of election code, sources told The Hans India.  

Agriculture Department Principal Secretary Rajasekhar and Real-time Governance Society CEO Babu A conducted a video conference with all District Collectors on the effective implementation of the scheme.

RTGS developed an exclusive website http://annadathasukhibhava.ap.gov.in and mobile application on Annadata Sukhibhava. The officials said 48,89,277 beneficiaries have been identified so far and Rs 1000 deposited in their accounts. A total of Rs 488.92 crore will be deposited in the accounts of the farmers’ families.

Beneficiaries will receive an SMS to their mobile phone from the banker after the deposit of the amount. RTGS will also send an SMS to the beneficiaries about the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme fund deposit.