Pattadar passbooks, govt aid put off

Hyderabad: The State government invited new tenders for the preparation of high security pattadar passbooks for farmers. Due to the decision, now the government will require more time to launch the distribution of passbooks and farmers’ investment support scheme. 

The government decided to postpone the passbook distribution programme and the launch of farmers investment support scheme also. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is likely to announce the fresh schedule for the launch of the two programmes soon. As per the earlier schedule, the passbook distribution and Rs 4,000 investment schemes were supposedly to be launched on March 11 and May 15 respectively. 

Top officials said that the Chief Minister already instructed the State Revenue department to complete the bidding process for the printing of pattadar passbooks and title deeds by March 2. Government had set the deadline to complete the printing of nearly 75 lakh passbooks in a month’s time. Officials said that the passbook printing will be completed in April second week and thus the distribution of passbooks to all farmers will require another one-month time. 

Earlier, the security printing press owned by the RBI was entrusted to print the passbooks. As the press failed to meet the deadline, government cancelled the tenders and decided to invite fresh bidders through Telangana State Technology Services Limited (TSTSL). The main security feature of 13-digit unique code to be printed on the passbook has now been reduced to 12-digit due to some technical reasons. 

Officials said that the government will not launch the investment support scheme without the completion of the distribution of passbooks to every farmer, who were entitled to avail the incentive scheme. Taking into consideration the present circumstance, it will be become difficult for the government to launch the cash incentive scheme on May 15 as announced earlier. The availability of financial resources and the completion of passbook distribution are major challenges before the government. 

Taking into account all these factors, the incentive scheme will be deferred to May end as against the earlier schedule of May 15.  However, government wanted to launch the scheme before the beginning of Khariff season in June.

Sources said that the Chief Minister is closely monitoring the progress in the passbook distribution and arrangements being made for cash incentive scheme and will announce the fresh dates for the launch of the two schemes soon.