Old policy on subsidy to groundnut demanded

Warangal: A P Rythu Sangham (APRS) demanded withdrawal of peculiar policy of applying in Mee-Seva for availing subsidy on groundnut seeds, a policy prevailing only in Warangal district in the entire state! APRS demanded continuation of old policy of directly supplying subsidized seeds to the farmers.

Speaking to the media in Hanamkonda, Sangham secretary Sarempalli Vasudeva Reddy blamed the new system of applying for subsidy at mee-seva centres and link it to the respective bank accounts to get the subsidy after the farmers buy the groundnut seeds at non-subsidy rates. It is mostly tribal and backward communities who go for the Rabi season, he stated and with this step, it would badly affect their fair chances of availing the government subsidy, he added.

Taking the government to task, he said that most mee-seva centres failed due to lack of intranet and internet connectivity during the time of applying for the legitimate subsidy and the eligible farmers had to run from pillar to post in vain. In a representation submitted to the joint director of agriculture, he averred the department had failed in creating awareness on the new steps for availing the subsidy. He made a plea to officials to continue with earlier policy of supplying directly subsidized groundnut seeds this season and end the agony of the scores of the poor farmers.