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Don’t dawdle over subsidy: Congress to TS govt
The Congress party on Tuesday staged a walkout in Legislative Council over the issue of delay in input subsidy to farmers. They alleged that the government remained apathetic to the problems faced by the farmers, even as they continue to commit suicides.
Congress members stage a walkout in Council over delay in payment of input subsidy to farmers
Hyderabad: The Congress party on Tuesday staged a walkout in Legislative Council over the issue of delay in input subsidy to farmers. They alleged that the government remained apathetic to the problems faced by the farmers, even as they continue to commit suicides.
- Govt accused of remaining apathetic to farmers' woes
- Minister refutes Congress charges
The party members including Leader of Opposition Mohammed Ali Shabbir who raised the question during Question Hour expressed dissatisfaction over the answer by the Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy. While referring to suicide committed by a farmer’s family in Medak district recently, Shabbir Ali alleged that the government was not serious about providing relief to the farmers.
Rather taking up the issue seriously, he held that the government was still in the State of self-appreciation mode. He deplored the abnormal delay in payment of input subsidy of Rs 921 crore for the years 2015-16. Though the Central government had paid its share of Rs 720 crore five months ago, he said the State is delaying to contribute its share of Rs 220 crore.
Congress members disappointed with Agriculture Minister’s response on release of input subsidy to drought-hit farmers staged a walkout from the House. Later speaking to press persons, Shabbir Ali said the government had declared 332 mandals as drought-affected and sought Central funds. “Even though the Centre released money, the same has not been distributed. There is no point in merely issuing orders to banks without releasing the funds”, he said.
Earlier, the Minister refuted the Congress claim and said government had so far released Rs. 791 crore as input subsidy to farmers. Alleging that during previous Congress regime lot of injustice was done to farmers, he recalled that during the 2013 drought, the then government released Rs. 700 crore to Chittoor, Cuddapah and Anantapur districts in AP while the drought- hit Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda districts in Telangana got a measly Rs.13 crore.
Similarly on an earlier occasion, he said Prakasam, Nellore and other districts received Rs. 1,000 crore while Telangana was given just Rs. 134 crore. The Minister clarified that not all the funds released by Centre were for input subsidy. They were also meant for urban and rural water supply. Without waiting for the Government of India money, the State government had spent Rs 550 crore on drinking water supply for rural and urban areas, he added.
