Do not reject cheques: Agriculture Minister to bankers

The district administration has geared up for distributing the Rythu Bandhu cheques each worth about ₹4,000 per acre to 2,39,712 farmers in 436 villages in 27 mandals, from May 10 to 17.

As many as 2,40,480 cheques amounting to ₹2,004.44 crore are being prepared for the distribution. The amount is given for investment for cultivation in 5,09,317 acres, according to Agriculture Minister P. Srinivas Reddy.

At a review meeting on the arrangements for the cheque delivery here on Monday, the Minister asked the officials to ensure that no eligible farmer was unhappy. All required facilities including drinking water must be provided at the distribution camp, he said, suggesting that a separate counter for receiving grievances be set up. The villages were divided into schedules for each 300 cheques. Cheques will be delivered in every village.

Suggesting that Collector M. Ram Mohan Rao hold bankers’ meeting before handing over cheques to discuss the strategy for the delivery and resolve problems if any, he also asked the bankers not to reject cheques and try to issue money to farmers at the earliest. There is no dearth of money for the distribution under the scheme, he added.