Chief Minister  K Chandrashekhar Rao said that the required funds and cash reserves for providing investment support to farmers under Rythu Bandhu Scheme are deposited in the banks. The CM declared that adequate arrangements are made for the farmers to withdraw cash as and when they present the cheques in the banks. He said by May 1, Rs 4,114.62 Crore amount was kept ready in various banks and finance secretary is  meeting Reserve Bank of India officials to make arrangements for getting another Rs 2,000 Crore. By the time Cheques are to be dispersed Rs 6,000 Crore cash reserves would be kept ready with the banks. He said funds are kept with SBI, Telangana Grameena Bank, Grameena Vikas Bank, Canara Bank, IOB, Corporation Bank, Andhra Bank and Syndicate Bank.  The CM requested  the Bank officials not to use funds meant for the farmers for other purposes, as they have to be disbursed among the farmers. He said the required number of Cheque books and passbooks of the farmers are printed and have reached the mandals, the CM clarified.

The first phase programme of distributing cheques under the Rythu bandhu programme will start from May 10 under which government decided to give  financial assistance of Rs 8000 per acre per year  for two crops. The CM held a review meeting on the arrangements made for the programme here on Tuesday at Pragati Bhavan.  Advisor  Anurag Sharma, Principal SecretariesS Narsing Rao,  Parthasarathy,  Ramakrishna Rao,  Rajesh Tiwari, Ms Shanti Kumari, Agriculture Commissioner  Jaganmohan Rao, Land Administration Director Ms Vakati Karuna, IT Commissioner Venkateswar Rao, OSD Rajath Shine, CM Special secretary Ms Smita Sabharwal participated.

“We have decided to distribute 57.33 Lakh passbooks to farmers all over the State. Out of this 4.60 Lakh did not link their Aadhar cards. For 52,72,779 farmers who have linked their Aadhar cards, passbooks and cheques will be distributed. Since severe summer conditions are prevailing the programme will be held from 7 AM to 11 AM and again from 5 PM to 7. 30 PM and the first phase of the programme will be held from May 10.’’  In view of the   severeness of heat, for the benefit of those farmers who will not be able to make it on 10th, the facility will be further extended for couple of days’’ said Chief Minister.