TPCC turns rythu bandhu, opens helpline

​Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has opened a helpline at Gandhi Bhavan for the benefit of farmers. It is intended to give advice to farmers on the Rythu Bandhu scheme and other agriculture related scheme. 

The helpline was opened by TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy at a meeting with the party office-bearers. The helpline would be operated by the Congress Kisan Kheth wing. 

Speaking at the programme which was presided over by party senior leader M Kodanda Reddy, Uttam Kumar Reddy said experts would give advice to the farmers on the issues of land records and Rythu Bandhu scheme. The farmers can call 040 2460 1254.  He said the party would serve the cause of farmers even though it is in the Opposition. He recalled that the Congress governments had introduced several schemes for the benefit of farmers. 

He pointed out that the Congress had introduced free power scheme for the farmers. It had benefited the cotton farmers and ensured more value for the agriculture lands.  He said the Congress had instilled confidence among the farmers and criticised the TRS government for behaving in “an inhumanly manner” towards farmers. 

It was expected that the farmers would prosper after formation of Telangana State, but as many as 4,500 had committed suicide in the past four years. The ruling party had thrown the agriculture sector into crisis and had filed cases against those who demanded minimum support price. 

He said instead of giving MSP to the farm products, the government had been cheating the farmers by employing cheap gimmicks. He promised that farmers loans up to Rs 2 lakh would be waived and MSP would be provided to all crops if the Congress was voted to power. 

He said crops had been damaged due to untimely rains, and about 1.5 lakh quintals of farm produce was damaged in the markets. 

The programme was attended by CLP leader in Assembly K Jana Reddy, former MPs V Hanumantha Rao, Ponnam Prabhakar, MLAs Vamsichand Reddy and SA Sampath. 

Meanwhile, Uttam Kumar Reddy urged the party leaders to take the elections to the Gram Panchayats seriously. He said the party would hold meetings at the mandal level. 

He said that already the voter lists had been released and objections would be received till May 8. Party leaders should check the lists and bring the errors to the notice of the officials.