EC stalls distribution of Rythu Bandhu cheques

​Hyderabad: In yet another setback to the Telangana's caretaker government, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday put conditions on the implementation of the second phase of Rythu Bandhu scheme. The Commission imposed restrictions, instructing the government to stop distribution of cheques to the farmers with immediate effect. It has already stopped the government from the distribution of Bathukamma sarees.  

In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer, ECI Principal Secretary RK Rudola said the Commission had approved the scheme for pre-identified beneficiaries only. The conditions are: “No new beneficiaries should be added to the to the existing list of eligible beneficiaries, no publicity and no public function should be organised in the implementation of the scheme. Direct electronic transfer of cash should be made to the accounts of the beneficiaries and there should be no distribution of cheques in this regard.”

As cheque distribution began on Friday morning, a section of beneficiaries has already got the subsidy in the form of cheques. The Election Commission, was however, silent on what should be done with the cheques already distributed.

The officials surmise that the Election Commission, by being silent on the cheques already distributed, wanted the restrictions be imposed on the distribution of subsidy from Friday evening, the time they have arrived in the form of a communication to the government.          

On the instructions of the caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, the Agriculture department launched the distribution of cheques to the farmers on Friday.  As per the earlier schedule, the government was to launch cheque distribution from November first week.  

Principal Secretary to Agriculture C Parthasaradhi said the cheque distribution was launched in select villages in 11 districts. The authorities said the farmers who have already got the cheques will be permitted to withdraw money by depositing them in the local banks.

Under Rythu Bandhu, the government is providing Rs 4,000 incentive per acre as input cost to the farmers. The government has already deposited Rs 5,500 crore in the banks for the implementation of the scheme for the Rabi season. The total number of beneficiaries under the scheme is around 55 lakhs.