Hyderabad govt rolls out Rythu Bharosa scheme; non-arable land excluded from benefits and Rs 2,349 crore disbursed
HYDERABAD: The Congress govt has clarified that the removal of nearly 2.95 lakh acres from the Rythu Bharosa scheme was due to ineligibility, and not any imposed acreage cap. The state govt launched the ambitious farmer support scheme on Monday without restricting landholding size.
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Instead, the only criterion was that the land had to be arable.
Non-arable parcels - such as roads, rocky terrain, real estate plots, or land left uncultivated for over four years - were excluded. This rationalisation helped the govt save approximately 170 crore. Senior officials said that even if land isn't currently under cultivation, as long as it is suitable for agriculture, it qualifies for benefits.
Moreover, land that can be developed into arable plots will be considered for support in that season itself, making the exempted acreage dynamic across seasons.
Earlier speculation suggested the govt might cap benefits to landholdings of up to 10 acres. However, this did not materialise.
"We prioritised the core principle - supporting those with land suitable for agriculture," said officials. Farmers who recently received pattas (land titles) have been given until June 20 to apply.
On the second day of disbursement, agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao announced that 1,551 crore had already been transferred to 10.45 lakh small farmers with up to three acres.
He assured that all eligible farmers - regardless of land size - would receive their share shortly, and no one would be left out. Funds are being directly credited into bank accounts, avoiding any transaction issues.
Chief minister A Revanth Reddy kicked off the scheme on Monday by crediting 6,000 per acre into the accounts of farmers owning up to two acres.
So far, 2,349.83 crore has been distributed for 39.16 lakh acres, covering 41.25 lakh farmers. The total outlay for the nine-day rollout stands at 9,000 crore.
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