Hyderabad, July 29 (UNI): Farmer first foundation, an NGO from the State, today de- manded that the politicians of Telangana voluntarily give up Rythu Bandhu monetary benefits being availed by them by August 15.
Founder of the organization Chakradhar Goud said the Rythu Bandhu scheme was a blessing for small and marginal farmers and added that there was no use of the scheme if it also extended to the politicians of the State. He asked the politicians, who are getting salaries and other allowances from the State government in the capacity of public representatives, whether they require the benefits of the scheme.
He mocked that those who are enjoying their life in foreign countries also got- ting the Rythu Bandhu scheme benefits and added those who never did farming in their entire life were also getting the Rythu Bandhu benefits on
the hundreds of acres of land owned by them. Good said that the small and marginal farmers of the State were facing a lot of losses due to the extension of the benefits to the rich politicians and people. He said it was not proper for the rich to crave the Rythu Bandhu benefits and added that it was not useful to extend the scheme for every gunta of agricultural land. He demanded that the State government extend the scheme to only those who own five acres of agricultural land. He alleged that corruption to the tune of 6,000 crores was taking place in the State in the name of the Rythu Bandhu scheme. Stating that he has ten acres of land, he said he voluntarily gave up the Rythu Bandhu benefit. Stating that a former IAS officer and State minister Ch. Malla Reddy also announced that they would give up Rythu Bandhu benefits after seeing him, he asked the minister to keep his word.
