PNS|Vijayawada
On the occasion of the birth anniversary of former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Rajashekar Reddy, on Saturday, CM Jagan Mohan Reddy paid a special tribute by disbursing Rs 1,117 crore insurance compensation to 10.2 lakh farmers whose crops were damaged during the Kharif season 2022. Apart from this, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the Multipurpose Facilitation Centre (MPFC) godowns and 52 Dr YSR Agri Testing Labs, developed at an expenditure of Rs 63.93 crore.
Addressing a huge public meeting of farmers here on Saturday before releasing the amount directly into the bank accounts of affected farmers through the click of a button, the Chief Minister recalled the great work done by his father.
On this day, farmers remember schemes like Aarogyasri, Jalayagnam, 104 and 108 ambulance services, fee reimbursement and lakhs of houses constructed by YSR for the poor.
“We have named several welfare schemes after YSR to respect him and cherish his memories forever,” he said.
AP is the only state where the Government has been implementing various unique welfare schemes for the sake of farmers, he said, adding that other states and experts in other countries are keenly observing the implementation of the programmes in Andhra Pradesh.
“In an unprecedented manner, we are covering every irrigated acre and every farmer through RBKs and e-cropping under the crop insurance scheme without imposing any financial burden on the farmers. No other state is implementing a scheme like this,” he said.
So far, 54, 48,000 farmers got free insurance of Rs. 7802crores in the last four years while only Rs 3411 crore was paid to 35, 80,000 farmers in the 5 years of drought-hit TDP rule, said the Chief Minister.
Still, the TDP friendly media, which kept silent during the TDP rule over non-clearance of insurance claims, is shedding crocodile tears on behalf of farmers twisting the facts on insurance and unabashedly publishing concocted stories, he remarked.
The Chief Minister listed out the more than dozen welfare schemes being implemented for farmers and the visible changes taking place in the State.
Apart from the free insurance scheme, the Government so far spent Rs 30,890 crores under Rythu Bharosa-PM kisan in the last four years benefiting 52,38,000 farmers, he said, stating this worked as Sanjeevini for the small and marginal farmers.
While 10, 778 RBKs are hand holding the farmers from the stage of seeding to marketing their produce, e-crop system is helping the officials maintain accurate data of crops and farmers.
Crop loss payment before the end of the season, zero interest scheme and price stabilisation fund of Rs 3000 crore are helping the farmers in a great way, he asserted, adding further that Government has so far spent Rs 40,000 crore, Rs 1965 crore, Rs 1835 crore and Rs 1100 crore on free power supply, crop loss, zero interest and YSR Yantra Seva Scheme respectively.
The Government has also given relief to 87 600 farmers over 2,06,000 acres of dotted lands besides launching 340 veterinary ambulances to serve the ailing cattle, tying up with Amul for enhancing the milk collection rate for dairy farmers, establishing millet processing units and for helping small and marginal farmers and taking up resurvey of lands after 100 years to permanently settle land disputes, he added.
RBKs are being further strengthened with soil testing facilities while CAP certification, plant doctor concept, precision agriculture and use of drones will be introduced soon to help the farmers in every way, asserted the Chief Minister.
Responding to the appeals of the Minster Ushasri Charan, the Chief Minister said he has just released Rs 208 crores for land acquisition as part of the Rs 542 crore Bhairavanithippa (BT) project for irrigating uncultivated lands in Kalyanadurgam, Rayadurgam and Uravakonda Mandals. He also agreed to build community halls for various social groups.
Apart from some of the farmers who benefited through the free crop insurance scheme, District Collector M Gowthami, Kalyanadurgam MLA and Minister Ushasri Charan also addressed the public meeting.
Energy Minister P.Ramachandra Reddy, Agriculture Minister K Govardhana Reddy and others also participated in the programme.
