Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao had announced a financial assistance of Rs 4,000 per acre for every farmer in Telangana state from the next Kharif season in June 2018. But now to lower the burden on the state exchequer, the government is keen to encourage rich farmers not to avail of the scheme.
There are over 1.24 crore acres which would come under the subsidy scheme. Estimates put the total subsidy the state will have to bear at Rs 11,000 crore per year. So, the government is proposing the launch of a ‘Give Up Subsidy’ scheme, along with the lines of the Centre’s LPG cylinders scheme, to reduce its burden.
Earlier, the government thought the burden will only be to the tune of 8000 Crore per year. According to the earlier announcement, every farmer is eligible for this scheme. Ministers, MLAs, MLCs, MPs, IAS and Group-I officers, all are eligible to claim the financial assistance under the scheme.
The CM himself owns an 85-acre farmhouse on the outskirts of the city, which too was enrolled for the scheme. The CM himself becomes eligible for a handout of Rs 3.40 lakh in each of the two seasons every year. KCR is likely to lead the Give Up scheme by giving up the benefits he is entitled to.
