YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday accused previous Telugu Desam Party government headed by N Chandrababu Naidu of misusing the money meant to be paid to farmers towards input subsidy.
Speaking in the state assembly on the first day of the budget session, the chief minister alleged that the Naidu government had evaded payment of Rs 2,300 crore towards input subsidy to farmers and diverted Rs 1,800 crore given by the Centre towards drought.
“We had to clear the dues of the previous government on seed procurement to a tune of Rs 384 crore,” he said.
He said the new government also had to pay Rs 7 lakh compensation to the families of the farmers who committed suicides due to crop failure and indebtedness.
He announced that the YSR Rythu Bharosa scheme aimed at paying Rs 12,500 to each farmer every year would be implemented from October 15. The government will also create Rs 3,000 crore Market Stabilization Fund to check the price fluctuations in agriculture produce.
He said there has been 48 per cent deficit rainfall in the state and the extent of land under cultivation has come down drastically.
“We will face the situation and go forward working for the farmers’ welfare,” he said.
He announced setting up of state calamity relief fund with Rs 2,000 crore to help farmers overcome the impact of severe drought conditions prevailing in the state.
He further announced that under YSR Insurance scheme, the government would pay premium amounting to Rs 2,164 crores without imposing any burden on the farmers.