KCR asks banks not to use Rythu money for other purposes

​Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday asked banks not to use for any other purpose the money meant for Rythu Bandhu (Crop Investment Support Scheme), which has been deposited with them in advance. 

Reviewing the arrangements being made to launch the scheme on May 10 with the officials concerned here, the Chief Minister said adequate arrangements were made for the farmers to withdraw cash as and when they presented the cheques in the banks.

He said Rs 4,114.62 crore had been kept ready in various banks as on May 1 and the State finance officials would ask Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to make arrangements for getting another Rs 2,000 crore. By the time cheques are to be dispersed, Rs 6,000 crore cash reserves would be kept ready with the banks, he said. 

Funds are kept with the SBI, Telangana Grameena Bank, Grameena Vikas Bank, Canara Bank, IOB, Corporation Bank, Andhra Bank and Syndicate Bank. The Chief Minister requested the bank officials not to use funds meant for the farmers for other purposes, as they have to be disbursed among farmers. He said the required number of cheque books and passbooks of farmers had been printed and already reached the mandals.

The government also decided to distribute 57.33 lakh passbooks to farmers all over the State. Out of this, 4.60 lakh did not link their Aadhaar cards. For 52,72,779 farmers who have linked their Aadhaar cards, passbooks and cheques will be distributed. Since severe summer conditions are prevailing, the distribution programme will be held from 7 am to 11 am and again from 5 pm to 7. 30 pm. In view of the severity of heat, for the benefit of those farmers who will not be able to make it on May 10, the facility would be further extended for a couple of days, the Chief Minister said.