Harish Rao slams Congress government over delay in Rythu Bima premium payment

The former minister questioned whether the government intended to continue the Rythu Bima scheme or whether it was quietly discontinued

Hyderabad: Voicing concern over the failure of the Congress government to pay the insurance premium for Rythu Bima Scheme, BRS senior leader and former Minister T Harish Rao stated that the government should have cleared the Rs 775 crore premium in February. However, three months had already passed without payment.

The Rythu Bima scheme, originally introduced by former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, was designed to provide financial security to families of deceased farmers, ensuring they do not face financial ruin. Concerns were mounting over the delay in payment of premium to continue the programme.

The former minister questioned whether the government intended to continue the Rythu Bima scheme or whether it was quietly discontinued. He also criticized the administration for failing to disburse financial assistance under the Rythu Bandhu scheme during the monsoon season and delaying payments for the Yasangi crop cycle. According to reports, more than 100 farmers had died in the last three months due to various reasons. With the government failing to pay the insurance premium, their families were left without financial aid. Harish Rao further condemned the government’s stand on loan waivers, stating that despite repeated assurances, only a fraction of farmers had received relief, leaving many struggling with debt burdens. He accused the administration of betraying the farming community and ignoring their plight.

Calling for immediate action, Harish Rao demanded that the Telangana government compensate affected farmer families by paying Rs.5 lakh per family and clear the pending premium with LIC without further delay.