Telangana CM’s 24X7 hotline to make Rythu Bandhu hassle-free

​Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has set up a hotline with the district Collectors for 24X7 communication to review progress in the implementation of crop investment support scheme - Rythu Bandhu - to be launched on May 10.

As the deadline to launch the crop support scheme meant for the farming community is just two weeks away, the Chief Minister intensified efforts to ensure its implementation in a hassle-free manner as the government targets to extend benefits to nearly 70 lakh farmers before the beginning of the kharif season in June. A sum of Rs 4,000 will be given for each acre to every farmer under the scheme.

Top officials said that KCR has been receiving updates from the district authorities on the arrangements mainly cheque and passbook distribution to farmers in every village. The CM has concentrated more on the erstwhile districts of Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar where tribal pockets are more in number. The government decided to extend the scheme in the agency areas also where tribals are cultivating lands they got under the Recognition of Forest Rights Act.

The CM is seeking information with regard to the farmers belonging to ST community in very district and reviewed whether their names are included in the list of beneficiaries with the Collectors directly, official said, adding that KCR was also enquiring about the coordination between the implementing agencies - state Agriculture, Revenue, Forest and Finance departments in the enforcement of the scheme.    

Collectors are already directed to hold meetings with local bank authorities on making available required money to be withdrawn by the farmers by depositing the cheques distributed by the government. KCR will use the hotline facility whenever he wanted inputs from the Collectors. 

The officials are also given freedom to speak to CM directly and seek assistance from the government, if required. The facility will also be used to review the implementation of other welfare and developmental programmes this year which is considered crucial for ruling TRS ahead of 2019 elections.