Fact Check: No change in Rythu Bandhu guidelines in Congress government
Rythu Bandhu is the first direct farmer investment support scheme in India, where cash is directly credited into the farmer's bank account. This scheme was started by the BRS government in 2018. It promises Rs 10000 per acre to Telangana Farmers twice a year for the two seasons – Kharif and Rabi.
rythu bandhu
Rythu Bandhu is the first direct farmer investment support scheme in India, where cash is directly credited into the farmer's bank account. This scheme was started by the BRS government in 2018. It promises Rs 10000 per acre to Telangana Farmers twice a year for the two seasons – Kharif and Rabi.
The disbursement of the funds was stopped by the Election Commission, stating it was tantamount to violation of the election code. After the change in the government, several citizens of the state are speculating whether the Congress government will change the guidelines, reducing the beneficiaries under the scheme.
A text message in Telugu is in circulation on all platforms of social media with the claim that there will be new guidelines to implement the Rythu Bandhu scheme. The new guidelines are – scheme valid for farmers having under 5-10 acres only, Government employees are not eligible, People paying GST and submitting IT returns are not eligible, those having loans above Rs 20 lakh are also not eligible.
The claim in Telugu goes “రైతు బంధు కొత్త రూల్స్ పెడుతున్నారా?
-5నుంచి -10 ఎకరాలు లోపు వారికి మాత్రమే...?
-ప్రభుత్వ ఉద్యోగస్తులకు కట్..?
-ఐటి కట్టే వారికి GST, ఉన్నవారికి రైతు బంధు బంద్...?
-20లక్షల పైన లోన్ ఉన్నవారికి కట్...?
When translated: it reads: “Are new rules being framed for eligibility to Rythu Bandhu?
- Only for those possessing 5-10 acres...?
- Government employees to be eliminated…?
- Rythu Bandhu cannot be availed by those paying IT and having GST…?
- Scheme not to be implemented for those taking crop loan above Rs 20 lakh..?
Fact Check:
The claim is False. There have been no changes made to the guidelines of the Rythu Bandhu scheme by the Congress government.
When searched using keywords, we found several reports confirming that the scheme guidelines have not been changed.
According to a report published by Deccan Chronicle, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed officials to transfer Rythu Bandhu assistance of Rs 5,000 per acre for the rabi season into the bank accounts of all farmers owning land, from Monday. The decision was taken at the high-level meeting held by Revanth Reddy at the Secretariat on Monday (December 11, 2023).
Owing to the urgency of the situation, with farmers requiring aid quickly, the Congress government has decided to go ahead with Rythu Bandhu for this rabi season. Due to a lack of time to finalize guidelines for the implementation of Rythu Bharosa, as promised by the Congress during the campaigning, the government has decided to give away Rythu Bandhu now. In fact, Rythu Bharosa covers more beneficiaries, including tenant farmers and agriculture labourers.
Under Rythu Bharosa, farmers get a financial aid of Rs 7,500 per acre per season, against Rs 5,000 under Rythu Bandhu.
According to Hans India, Congress MLC Jeevan Reddy announced that the Congress government will make necessary changes to the scheme shortly but as of now, the funds are being released based on the old method, as farming activity has already gained momentum.
Therefore, though there is no clarity on whether the guidelines of the Rythu Bandhu scheme would be reframed, there is no change of rules as of now. The funds have been disbursed to the eligible account holders as per the scheme guidelines. The claim that changes have been made to the guidelines is False.