Published Jul 09, 2023 | 8:32 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 09, 2023 | 8:32 AM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy releasing crop insurance to farmers. (Twitter)
Commemorating the birth anniversary of his father and former chief minister of combined Andhra Pradesh YS Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) as “Rythu Dinothsavam” (farmer’s day), Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday, 8 July, disbursed ₹1,117 crore to more than 10 lakh farmers in the state as crop insurance compensation for the 2022 Kharif season.
The Andhra Pradesh chief minister released the funds at a public meeting under the Dr YSR Free Crop Insurance Scheme in Kalyandurgam town of Anantapuramu district.
He also inaugurated multi-purpose facilitation centre (MPFC) godowns and 52 Dr YSR Agri Testing Labs at a cost of ₹70 crore, taking the number of such labs to 127 across the state.
“Whenever I remember father (Rajasekhar Reddy), I look back at how he responded to farmers. I remember free power, Jalayagnam, Aarogyasri schemes which benefit farmers and poor people, 104, 108 and the sound of the ambulance,” said Jagan in a video link shared by the government, about the pro-poor schemes introduced by his father when YSR governed between 2004 and 2009.
Rajasekhar Reddy died in a helicopter crash on September 2, 2009, just months after securing a successive term as chief minister in then combined Andhra Pradesh. He was 60.
The chief minister also recalled the fee reimbursement scheme, lakhs of houses built for the poor and several other programmes that remind everyone of the good name that YSR earned.
Though he may not be with us in person, YSR’s good deeds will always be remembered, said Jagan, observing that several schemes under agriculture, health and housing sectors have been named after his father.
On the crop insurance provided to farmers, Jagan said the compensation was given to eligible farmers who suffered losses during last year’s Kharif season around the time that sowing begins in the current year.
Unlike any other state, farmers in Andhra need not to pay even ₹1 as crop insurance as the state government is covering for them, he said.
According to Jagan, more than 54 lakh farmers received ₹7,802 crore under this scheme in the past four years.
He claimed media houses that are friendly towards the principal Opposition TDP kept silent when the party’s previous regime failed to clear insurance claims but are now allegedly twisting facts to publish concocted reports against his government.
Meanwhile, Jagan announced some forthcoming agricultural programmes which the government would introduce, like soil testing, good agricultural practices, nanofertilisers, drones, and others.
Under a concept called “plant doctor”, the chief minister said, a farmer can get his soil tested for potency and the amount of fertilisers to be used as part of incorporating precision agriculture, adding that all these activities will function from Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBK).
Likewise, aimed at completing irrigation projects in a planned and prioritised manner, Reddy said ₹208 crore would be released by the government for acquiring 1,407 acres of land to complete the Bhairavanithippa (BT) project, which will benefit the three constituencies of Kalyandurgam, Rayadurgam, and Uravakonda.
Following the public meeting, the chief minister proceeded to YSR Ghat at Idupulapaya in Kadapa district, which has Rajasekhara Reddy’s grave, to pay respects to his father.
Jagan joined his mother, wife, family members and others in a memorial prayer remembering the legacy of his father. He garlanded YSR’s bust and laid a few garlands on his grave.
