MS Swaminathan, United Nations appreciated Telangana for Rythu Bandhu: KCR

ARMOOR: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) has shared how the BRS has remained focussed on agriculture sector and how it has borne rich dividends.

Speaking at a public meeting in Armoor, KCR said, "Agriculture is the main occupation of Telangana. So, I decided to develop agriculture sector in the State and wished farmers would be self-sufficient. That's why I came up with the Rythu Bandhu scheme.

"I didn't implement any scheme in Telangana just for fun. Strenuous efforts have been put in initiating Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bhima, Dalit Bandhu, and other welfare schemes in the state," he said.

Speaking about Rythu Bandhu, KCR asserted that "MS Swaminathan, famous Indian agronomist, took time to visit my office in Hyderabad and sang praises for coming up with Rythu Bandhu."

He added that the United Nations Organisation also sent an appreciation letter for initiating Rythu Bandhu in Telangana State.

"There is tax for water in all States, but we haven't imposed any tax on it," KCR told voters.

Pensions for beedi workers will be increased to Rs 5,000 if BRS wins: KCR

Speaking at a public meeting in Korutla, KCR expressed hope that the BRS would win the upcoming polls and assured farmers that Rythu Bandhu would be increased to Rs 12,000 next year and would eventually go up to Rs 16,000.

Sharing how he came up with the idea of introducing pensions for beedi workers, KCR said, "I used to live with a family in my school days in Dubbak. One person used to weave cloth and another in his family used to make beedis. I realised the plight of such people. That situation got imprinted in my mind back then. Once the Government in Telangana was formed, I decided to come up with pensions for the beedi workers."

If BRS wins again in the upcoming polls, then the pensions for beedi workers would be increased up to Rs 5,000 in the coming years.

He recollected that before Telangana was formed, six to seven weavers used to die in Sircilla, Bhoodan Pochampally, and Dubbak every day.

"One day, nearly seven weavers died in Bhoodan Pochampally. So, I urged the then Chief Minister to give either Rs 50,000 or Rs 1 lakh but he denied. After Telangana was formed, the BRS Government took all the situations into account and started welfare schemes," KCR said.