No online transfer; Telangana farmers to be given cheques

Telangana would be the first state to hand over cash to farmers before sowing begins

Eight banks designated by the government of Telangana have submitted about six million cheques bearing the names of 5.7 million farmers to its revenue department. 

The department will distribute the cheques to farmers in the respective gram sabhas in the coming two weeks, who will then encash these to spend on agricultural inputs like seed, fertiliser and pesticide, ahead of the imminent kharif (June-September) crop season. 

Termed Rythu Bandhu (farmers’ friend), the Agriculture Investment Support Scheme (AISS) would pay to every eligible farmer a sum of Rs 4,000 an acre, costing the state exchequer Rs 57 billion for the season. 

Despite the growing