PNS|Hyderabad
BRS Working President KT Rama Rao gave a call for protest at all district headquarters on Friday against the Centre’s malicious misinformation campaign about the implementation of the Employment Guarantee Scheme in Telangana.
Terming the Central Government’s action as vengeful, KTR said that the construction of agri-produce drying platforms under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) benefits farmers.
The BRS Working President said that the Centre has allowed States with coastlines to build fish drying platforms under the MGNREGA. KTR said that the Centre did not heed Telangana’s request despite bringing this to its notice. He said that the Centre is spreading misinformation by stating that the construction of the drying platforms is diversion of MGNREGS funds.
He said that the Central Government had served a notice to the State asking to return the Rs 151 crore spent on the construction of drying platforms under the scheme. He said the Centre is bent on maligning the Telangana government without considering the benefits that accrue to farmers. KTR said that multiple requests sent by the Telangana Government and the BRS to the Centre on integrating agriculture and allied activities with the Employment Guarantee Scheme were not considered favourably.
He said that at a time when employment opportunities have come down after Covid and the rural economy is in crisis, the Centre reduced funds allotted to NREGS and imposed various rules.
With this, he said the Modi government prevented the construction of 79,000 more drying platforms with an outlay of Rs 750 crore by Telangana.
Questioning what is wrong if the Employment Guarantee Scheme benefits farmers, KTR reiterated the demand to include agriculture and allied works in the Scheme. He said that this will be of help to farmers as the hike in the prices of fertilizers and fuel has increased the cost of farming.
He said that with pioneering schemes such as Rythu Bandhu and round-the-clock free power, Telangana is a role model to the country in agriculture. The Centre is attributing ill intentions to the State Government’s efforts to strengthen the sector, KTR said. He gave a call to all BRS activists to stage protests at district headquarters against the Centre’s discriminatory attitude towards Telangana.
