Ysr Rythu Bharosa

The farmer welfare scheme was one of the nine key promises among the ‘Navaratnalu’ made by the YSRCP in its election campaign.

What the scheme entails?

Landless cultivators or tenant farmers from SC, ST, BC and minority groups are also eligible for the incentive. The amount includes the annual benefit of Rs 6,000 per family provided by the Centre under the PM KISAN Yojana.

According to a government order issued on Monday, an amount of Rs 5,510 crore has been issued towards Rythu Bharosa. While the previous government’s beneficiary list included 43 lakh farmers, the CM has reportedly said that around 51 lakh farmers will be covered by Rythu Bharosa, apart from nearly 3 lakh tenant farmers.

The scheme also assures drilling of borewells free of cost, a calamity relief fund of Rs 4,000 crore, 9 hours of free electricity during the day, and setting up of cold storage units and food processing centres.

Responding to criticism over naming the scheme after YSR while using funds from the Centre, Minister of Agriculture Kanna Babu told the media that Jagan had instructed officials to include the name of the Centre’s scheme.

While the YSRCP government had earlier promised an amount of Rs 50,000 in four annual instalments of Rs 12,500 each, the amount was increased to Rs 13,500 to be paid for five years, bringing the total up to Rs 67,500. The increment was reportedly made following demands from farmers’ representative at an Agriculture Mission meeting held one day before the launch.