Hyderabad: The Cabinet Sub-Committee, which was assigned the task of preparing guidelines to provide Rs. 4,000 per acre per season input subsidy to farmers, has decided to hold direct interactions with farmers to finalise the policy.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee, under the chairmanship of Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, met at the State Secretariat on Monday. Other members of the committee including Finance Minister Etala Rajender, R&B Minister Tummala Nageshwar Rao and Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao were also present in the meeting. Chief Advisor to TS Govt Dr. Rajiv Sharma, Agriculture Secretary Parthasarathy, Finance Secretary Ramakrishna, Agriculture Commissioner Jagan Mohan and other senior officials also attended the meeting.
Speaking to media persons later, Srinivas Reddy said that the entire country has been looking at Telangana Government’s new policy of giving financial assistance of Rs. 4,000 per acre to farmers in every season. He said as per the recently held land survey, a total of 71.75 lakh accounts of farmers were found in Category – A.
He said the government proposed to extend the financial assistance directly to the farmers. However, it was feared that the banks might adjust the amount with farmers’ previous dues. Therefore, he said the proposal would be discussed in the State Level Bankers’ Committee meeting to find a solution.
In the first meeting of Cabinet Sub-Committee held today, he said that the views of all members were taken. He said another meeting will be held on January 10.
He said that the Committee would also take the views of farmers’ representatives by touring various parts of the State. (INN)