Hyderabad: Rythu Bharosa assistance for the upcoming Kharif season will be credited to farmers from June 30 after the Telangana government approved the programme during an informal Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
Ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao and Seethakka announced the decision after the meeting at the Secretariat. They said the formal launch would take place at a large farmers’ convention in Madhira, Khammam district.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said eligible farmers would receive the financial support directly in their bank accounts from the same platform. In addition, the government approved the continuation of a bonus for seven fine rice varieties cultivated in Telangana.
The bonus will apply to BPT-5204, RNR-15048, HMT Sona, Jai Sriram, KNM-1638, WGL-44 and KNM-7715. According to the government, these varieties account for nearly 83 per cent of fine rice cultivation in the state.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao raised concerns over urea allocations. He said Telangana had not received the quantities promised by the Centre in recent months. Therefore, the state demanded a larger share of fertilizer produced at the Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited plant.
The minister also advised farmers not to rush into sowing after the first rains. Instead, he urged them to wait for adequate soil moisture and follow Agriculture Department guidance.
Rythu Bharosa rollout among key Cabinet decisions
The Cabinet also decided to press the Centre for faster approval of Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-II. Furthermore, it sought early sanction of the proposed loan through the Indian Railway Finance Corporation.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the government introduced a Digital Cabinet system to promote paperless governance. Consequently, Cabinet notes and official documents will increasingly be handled through digital platforms.
In another decision, the government announced free TGSRTC bus travel for students appearing for the upcoming NEET examination. Around 2.95 lakh students are expected to take the test across 2,008 centres in Telangana.
Seethakka said a Cabinet sub-committee was constituted to study the Centre’s proposed changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The committee will assess the impact on Telangana and submit recommendations after consulting stakeholders.
The government said the proposed changes could affect employment opportunities and increase financial obligations on states. Therefore, the committee will examine the issue before recommending a future course of action.
