When Will Telangana Farmers Get Money Into Their Account After EC's Pause On Rythu Bandhu?

The farmers in Telangana will have to wait a few more days to get financial aid from the state government after the Election Commission on Monday put the brakes on the authorities from disbursing the financial assistance.

The Election Commission has withdrawn permission given to the Telangana government for disbursements of financial aid to farmers for rabi crops under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme after a state minister violated the provisions of the model code by making a public announcement about it.

The poll panel had given its nod to the state government to disburse the rabi installment during the model code of conduct period on certain grounds. The EC had asked not to publicise the disbursement during the poll code as part of the condition.

After the state finance minister made a public announcement about the release of disbursements of rabi instalments, the poll panel asked the chief electoral officer to convey its decision on the withdrawal of permission.

"The commission has observed that T Harish Rao, Minister of Finance and Heath and Family Welfare, Govt of Telangana ... has not only violated the provisions of MCC (model code of conduct)... but also conditions laid down as above by publicising the release under the scheme, and thereby disturbed the level playing field in the ongoing election process," the EC letter to the state chief electoral officer read.

Harish Rao had reportedly said, "The disbursement will be made on Monday. Even before the farmers complete their breakfast and tea, the amount will be credited into their account." In the letter, the commission "directed that the permission granted vide its letter dated November 25, 2023, for disbursement of rabi season instalment under the ongoing Rythu Bandhu scheme during currency of MCC, shall stand withdrawn immediately and there shall be no disbursement under the Scheme till the model code of conduct in the State of Telangana ceases to apply in all its form".

The 'no objection' was granted, based on the premise that the scheme is an ongoing scheme and rabi instalments were disbursed during October-January in the past five years, the EC pointed out.

What Is The Scheme All About?
It is a welfare program launched by the TRS government in 2018 for farmers, commonly referred to as the Rythu Bandhu scheme. Known as Farmer's Investment Support Scheme, farmers will receive direct investment support of Rs 5,000 per acre each season for both Kharif and Rabi, totalling Rs 10,000 annually per acre.

The Telangana government has already disbursed Rs. 70,000 crore over eleven cropping seasons, benefiting a total of 60 lakh farmers.

When Will They Receive The Amount After the EC Order?
The EC statement has clearly mentioned that there "shall be no disbursement under the Scheme till the model code of conduct in the State of Telangana ceases to apply in all its form". So, the farmers can expect the money to get credited to their accounts once voting for the 119 Assembly seats are over on Thursday (November 30).

Even if the process gets delayed, they will surely get after the counting on December 3.