CM KCR defends constitution of Rythu Samanvaya Samithis

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has strongly defended his government’s decision to constitute Rythu Samanvaya Samithis and assured that only people who participated in Telangana agitation would be members of the proposed Samithis.

Replying to a short discussion on “Rs. 8000 Investment support to Farmers – Formation of Rythu Samanvaya Samithis” in Telangana Legislative Assembly on Monday, the Chief Minister refuted the allegations leveled by Opposition members G. Chinna Reddy of Congress, NVSS Prabhakar of BJP,

Sandra Venkat Reddy of TDP, Sunnam Rajaiah of CPI (M) wherein they stated that the Samithis would comprise of only TRS members and based on their recommendation, Rs. 8000 would be given to the farmers.

They alleged that the Samithis’ formation was being done in view of General Elections to be held 2019. They also alleged that those who are not land owners are being given the membership.

The Chief Minister said that the previous TDP Government formed “Rythu Bandhu” groups in the year 2003 with TDP workers and spent nearly Rs. 350 crores. Similarly, the Congress regime under late Chief Minister Dr. Y. S. Rajashekhara Reddy formed “Adarsh Rythu” and spent over Rs. 600 crores.

He said if Congress and TDP leaders justify those groups, then why they were now opposing Rythu Samanvaya Samithis. He also clarified that the Samithis members would be paid nothing by the government.

KCR also refuted the allegation that new Panchayat Raj Bill was being introduced in violation of Constitutional Amendment 73rd and 74th which was



brought by the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

He said the PR Bill was implemented by many Congress-ruled States and it remained unimplemented during the last 10-year rule of Congress party in undivided Andhra Pradesh.

He said most of the subjects in the Constitutional Amendment of Panchayat Raj are being implemented by the respective department. He said agriculture activities do not come under the Panchayat Raj rule. Hence there was a need for bringing a separate Pancyat Raj Bill and giving powers on different subjects.

Tenant farmers will not get benefit of Rs. 8,000

The chief Minister has also made it clear that the farmers who are having clear title in their names will be only eligible for the Rs. 8,000 investment support per acre for two crops and the tenant farmers would not get the benefit. However, he said that the tenant farmers would be eligible for other subsidised agricultural inputs.

24-hours power from January 1

KCR said all categories of power consumers will get 24 hours power including free power to farmers from January 1. However, he said to stop of the misuse of power, the officials of the Energy Department will visit every village and agriculture land in the month of December and will remove the “Automatic Start Up” switches.

He explained that if Automatic Start up borewell pump is continued, it would damage the entire crop and land because of flow of water.

He said whenever the farmers need power for their borewell pump, they has to manually switch on the power button.