Separate budget for agriculture demanded

Khammam: Telangana Rythu Sangham state joint secretary Nunna Nageswara Rao demanded the State government to introduce a separate budget for agriculture sector.

Addressing a party meeting here on Sunday, he emphasised the need for an exclusive budget for agriculture allocating at least Rs 15,000 crore per annum.“The government, which provides healthcare and pension facilities to its employees, who get a salary of Rs 1 lakh or around, is not concerned about the poor farmers who provide food security to the country,” Rao said.

He demanded that the government provide Rs 5,000 pension a month and health cards to farmers, who turned the age of 60 years. Rao also demanded interest-free loans, besides providing seed and fertilisers at a subsidised price to small, marginal and tenant farmers.

“The Rythu Sangham is preparing a model budget for agriculture and it will be placed before the experts and the government for debate,” Rao said, revealing their plans to mobilise people’s support to their movement.

On the occasion, the Rythu Sangham passed resolutions demanding the government to fill the tanks under NSP Left canal besides notifying the district as drought-affected.

The leaders also demanded Rs 10,000 per acre as compensation to those farmers who lost crops in the Khariff. Senior leaders Tata Bhaskar Rao, Mamindla Sanjeeva Reddy, Bonthu Rambabu, Katta Gandhi, K Dharma, MB Narsa Reddy and Bodepudi Veerabhadram were among others present in the meeting.