BRS demands Rs 36,000 drought relief for agricultural labourers
Nirmal (Telangana), Nov 11 (TNT): BRS Working President and former Minister K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) on Wednesday demanded that the Telangana government release all four pending instalments of Rythu Bandhu and provide ₹36,000 financial assistance to each agricultural labourer affected by drought in the state.
Addressing at a massive Rythu Garjana public meeting in Nirmal, he said the government should pay agricultural labourers ₹1,000 per month for 36 months to compensate for the loss of livelihood, reschedule agricultural loans and complete the pending farm loan waiver.
Accusing Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of ignoring farmers’ distress, KTR alleged that the government was more concerned about political criticism than addressing the drought situation.
Farmers were facing difficulties due to inadequate irrigation water, power cuts, fertiliser shortages and delays in paddy procurement, he said.
Questioning the Centre’s response to the drought, KTR asked why assessment teams were being sent to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra while Telangana was allegedly being ignored.
He challenged BJP leaders in the state to stage a dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence demanding drought relief and adequate financial assistance for Telangana.
“Does Telangana have no place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s heart?” he asked, alleging that the BJP had failed to secure the state’s rightful share of funds and projects.
KTR also criticised the BJP over the proposed sale of the Cement Corporation of India (CCI) factory in Adilabad and the non-establishment of a Navodaya Vidyalaya in Nirmal.
He accused BJP leaders of supporting the Election Commission amid allegations of voter deletions.
Targeting the Congress government, he alleged that it had failed to fulfil its electoral promises to farmers, youth, women, Dalits and minorities.
Despite accumulating nearly ₹4.5 lakh crore in debt in three years, the government had not delivered on several assurances, he claimed.
He alleged that Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima schemes had been neglected, promised crop bonuses remained unfulfilled and power cuts were affecting agricultural operations.
KTR further accused the Congress government of deliberately neglecting irrigation projects, claiming that the Palamuru-Rangareddy project, which was nearly 90 per cent complete, had been stalled and the Kaleshwaram project was being neglected. He questioned why nearly 1,000 TMC of the state’s share of Godavari and Krishna waters was flowing downstream while several regions were facing drought.
Recalling the achievements of the previous BRS government under K. Chandrasekhar Rao, KTR cited Mission Kakatiya, which revived 46,000 tanks, 24-hour free power supply to agriculture, 11 instalments of Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima and decentralised paddy procurement.
He also highlighted the distribution of 4.5 lakh acres of Podu land titles, enhancement of ST reservations from six to 10 per cent, Mission Bhagiratha and welfare measures for beedi workers.
Raising other pending issues, he referred to ₹12,000 crore in fee reimbursement dues, the unfulfilled ₹5 lakh Vidya Bharosa Card promise, pending PRC and DA for government employees and retirement benefits.
Calling upon people to remember the development and welfare initiatives undertaken during the BRS regime, KTR urged them to defeat the Congress in the next elections and bring KCR back to power.
TNT TS
