Telangana four years later: The farmer is all smiles
Telangana which turns four today has faced several challenges since its formation. The people of the state not just fought but laid down their lives to ensure that a separate state was formed.
Four years down, the people of the state are relatively happy with the developments. Sudhakar Rao, a resident of Hyderabad says that the developments have taken place at a good pace. However what brings them the most joy is that the identity that they had been fighting for has been restored. It is a very emotional moment for all of us he also says.
Telangana formation day: The birth of a movement
On the development front, the youngest state of India has created a record by implementing 60 different farmer-friendly programmes. The people say that the biggest development factor has been on the agriculture front. K Chandrashkara Rao understands the pain of a farmer she he was one himself. KCR as he fondly called also says that he knows the pain and suffering of the farmers and hence my government stood as a backbone to them.
The
big
change
was
affected
when
the
government
decided
to
provide
free
and
uninterrupted
power
to
the
farming
sector.
The
government
also
waived
off
farm
loans
and
also
introduced
the
popular
scheme
Rythu
Bandhu,
a
farmer
input
support
scheme
of
Rs
8,000
per
acre
which
goes
directly
into
the
account
of
the
farmer
through
cheques.
As
per
the
NITI
Aayog's
Agriculture
Marketing
and
Farmer
Friendly
Reforms
Index' Telangana
is
ranked
among
the
top
10
most
farmer-friendly
states
in
the
country.
KCR
in
addition
to
this
also
undertook
a
drive
to
clean
up
land
records,
distribute
new
Pattadar
pass
books
which
has
ended
unwanted
litigation
among
the
rural
folk.
Telangana: The gamble Congress took in 2014
Telangana is also the first state in the country to provide 26% of its annual budget to agriculture. Telangana also allocated Rs 3,390 crore in the first year and, subsequently Rs 3,397 crore and Rs 8,083 crore for purchase of produce at Minimum Support Prices from farmers. A separate mechanism has also been put in place for stabilisation of prices of agricultural produce. The State government has been providing tractors to farmers at 50% subsidy while waiving off transport tax on them.
The Telangana government also provides 'Saddi Muta' hygienic food at Rs five to farmers who bring their produce to market yards in Boinpally, Siddipet, Gajwel and Adilabad. Efforts are also made to supply seeds, fertiliser, and pesticides to farmers at farmers' doorstep through Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies.