BRS Announces Generous Package to Farmers: Rs 1 Lakh Loan Waiver and Expanded Aid for Schemes

In a bid to secure a hat-trick victory in the upcoming Assembly elections, the BRS (Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi) has unveiled an ambitious manifesto, packed with promises aimed at uplifting various sections of society. The party, led by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, is set to release the manifesto on October 16 at a highly anticipated public gathering in Warangal.

The highlight of the manifesto is the proposed increase in the Rythu Bandhu amount, a flagship agricultural support scheme, from the current Rs 10,000 per acre per year to Rs 12,000 per acre per year. This move aims to alleviate the financial burden on farmers and bolster agricultural growth.

Party sources have disclosed that the manifesto is also expected to include significant welfare enhancements. The Aasara pension, designed to support the elderly, single women, and widows, among others, is set to be raised from Rs 2,016 to Rs 3,016. Similarly, the Kalyana Lakshmi/Shaadi Mubarak, a marriage assistance initiative, is proposed to be increased from Rs 1,00,016 to Rs 1,25,016.

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Notably, the BRS intends to uphold its commitment to waive crop loans of up to Rs 1 lakh, continuing the promise made in both the 2014 and 2018 elections. This pledge has been a cornerstone of the party's agenda and has found resonance among the farming community. However, the Congress, the main opposition party, has countered with an even more substantial promise, vowing to waive crop loans up to Rs 2 lakh if elected to power.

The process of drafting the manifesto is well underway, with the BRS manifesto committee at the helm. The party is planning to mobilize a significant number of supporters, aiming to rally 10 lakh individuals from all 119 Assembly constituencies for the manifesto's grand unveiling.

Reflecting on their past performance, the BRS government managed to fulfill its 2014 poll promise of crop loan waivers over a span of four years, disbursing Rs 16,144 crore to banks in multiple phases. Following their re-election in 2018, loan waivers were restricted to loans up to Rs 35,000 until July.

However, in a decisive move, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has taken steps to clear the outstanding loans of up to Rs 1 lakh by allocating Rs 19,000 crore in August and September. This process is well underway, with farmers gradually receiving funds in their accounts in stages. Orders have been issued to the finance department to ensure that all loans up to Rs 1 lakh are cleared by the end of September.

The BRS's decision to maintain its existing level of crop loan waiver promises has been justified by party insiders, who pointed out that Congress also committed to a similar pledge during the 2018 Assembly elections. However, the people's trust in the BRS led to its re-election.

As the campaign trail heats up and the electoral battle intensifies, the BRS's manifesto has set the stage for a dynamic contest, with promises of agricultural support, welfare enhancements, and a resolute commitment to farmers' interests taking center stage in the political discourse.

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