Telangana government to release Rythu Bandhu funds from Dec 28

Telangana government has decided to commence distribution of farm investment support of Rs 5,000 per acre to the eligible farmers in the ensuing Rabi (Yasangi) season under the Rythu Bandhu scheme from December 28. It required Rs 7,500 crore to disburse the benefit to more than 55 lakh farmers in the current season.

In view of financial constraints, the farm input incentive will be deposited first in the bank accounts of the farmers with one acre or less. Later, the amount will be given to the peasants who own land up to 10 acres. The process of depositing the money in the bank accounts of farmers will be completed by the end of Sankranti festival.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Sunday directed Finance Minister T Harish Rao to start releasing the crop investment - Rythu Bandhu -- funds for the Yasangi harvest season and ensure the availability of adequate funds for the scheme.

Sources said the Union government has stopped the release of nearly Rs 40,000 crore funds to Telangana under various schemes and programmes. As a result, the state government has been struggling hard to meet the financial requirements in the current financial year.

Officials of the State Finance department said the government will mobilize funds through institutional borrowings within the FRMB limit and transfer the money to the scheme. State Finance Secretary Ramakrishna Rao has been asked to accord priority to the scheme and release the funds by January end.