‘58.06 lakh cheques to be distributed across State’

The stage is all set for the launch of the Rythu Bandhu, the first of its kind investment support scheme, across the State on May 10.

The government had constituted 2,762 teams for distribution of 8.3 lakh cheques and new Pattadar passbooks every day. Arrangements are accordingly being made to ensure that cheque and passbooks distribution would be conducted between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. to avoid inconvenience to people on account of summer.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will formally launch the scheme at Huzurabad on May 10. An estimated 58.06 lakh cheques amounting to ₹5,608.09 crore would be distributed to farmers owning an extent of 1.4 crore acres and the government had dispatched 56.14 lakh cheques worth ₹5,392.29 crore covering 1.34 crore acres to all mandals where they are kept under the supervision of the police.

The balance 1.92 lakh cheques worth ₹215.8 crore covering an extent of 5.39 lakh acres would be dispatched to the respective villages by Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister (Revenue) Mohd. Mahmood Ali said here on Tuesday.

The government had decided to cover all the agricultural lands in 10,823 villages spread over 568 mandals during the first phase of the programme between May 10 and 17. “But the duration could be extended by some more days to cover all the eligible farmers,” he said.

Marginal farmers

Marginal farmers owning land less than 2.5 acres constitute a majority of 61.96% of the beneficiaries while another 23.9% holding less than five acres would also be covered under the scheme. The area held by small and marginal farmers is estimated at 55% while semi-medium to large farmers who own 14.14% holdings cover 44.55% of total land.

Mr. Mahmood Ali said more than 4.6 lakh accounts were not seeded with Aadhaar linkage so far. But the government had decided to provide cheques to them on production of valid identity cards issued by a government department. “The cheques will be of three months validity and farmers can encash these cheques at any of the eight banks that have been selected for the purpose,” he said.

Asked about the status of the people who own lands, but migrated to Gulf in search of employment, he said the government was committed to provide investment support to these sections too. “The assistance will be given on submission of authorisation letter given by the land owners in the name of their family members,” he said.