Rythu Vedika, unprecedented initiative in Telangana : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Rythu Vedika, unprecedented initiative in Telangana

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

In what construed to be a land mark and unprecedented initiative in the annals of agriculture history in the independent India and a revolutionary step that will change the entire contours of farming sector at one go, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar has formally inaugurated the first Rythu Vedika in the State at Kodakandla Mandal headquarters in Jangaon district on Saturday the 31^st October 2020.

The Government of Telangana has decided to construct 2601 Rythu Vedikas-2462 Rural and 139 Urban-in all the Agriculture Extension Officer’s clusters. Accordingly, Government earmarked an amount of Rs.573 crores towards the total construction cost. Rythu Vedikas are the first of its kind in India where a platform is being created for the farmers to organize themselves in to groups for attaining their ultimate objective of getting the remunerative prices, better marketing facilities, higher productivity and ultimately making the Agriculture profitable. They will also Help the farmers to organize themselves into a formidable group to protect their rights.

What followed the formal inauguration was the passion, courage, vision, determination and devotion of CM KCR to usher in a qualitative, quantitative and expressive farm policy that would eradicate all problems, adversaries and ill effects of farm sector and make it a profitable sector forever. More than the stated aims and objectives, the Rythu Vedikas ably supported by the government policies would become synergy to bring in a transparent, people-friendly and progressive change in the governments to come.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has unveiled his vision for the Rythu Vedikas’ role in the Telangana state by asserting that they should become a formidable force not only to change the farm sector for good but also should become focal centers to determine the change of governance. He also wanted farmers to utilize the Rythu Vedikas to stall attempts by the Centre to thrust upon the anti-farmer and pro-corporate Farm Acts that are brought in forcibly in the recent past and face the challenges.

Inaugurating Rythu Vedika, the Chief Minister made a passionate plea to farmers to utilize the Rythu Vedika and the opportunity provided by the government to become a united force and charter the course of their profession in the way it is profitable and comfortable. He envisaged that through Rythu Vedikas, farmers at a later stage would be able to determine which crops they should cultivate, what price they should fix for their produce and how to market them for greater profitability.

In his hour-long address, the CM not only dwelled at length on the purpose, aims and objectives of Rythu Vedikas but also took the opportunity to expose the hollowness of opposition parties like the Congress and the BJP armed with facts, figures and data.

Referring to the very concept of Rythu Vedika, CM KCR said that nowhere in the world or in the country, farmers were organized and this Telangana Model is the first of its kind step to make farmers united and a formidable force. The farmers by and large in our country and worldwide were left to themselves. Adding to this, there is a peculiar situation in the country where even if the state government wants to give some subsidies or offer MSP, the Centre would stall such attempts by arm-twisting methods.

A directive given by the Food Corporation of India to all the state government not to buy Paddy fine or coarse variety at Rs 1888 per quintal was quoted by CM. Even a rupee paid more than the price; the FCI will not procure the Paddy. He said the Farm Acts that were enacted in the Rajya Sabha in an undemocratic method were aimed at helping the large corporate entities but were in reality against the interests of the farmers. The CM said that, the time has come for the Rythu Bandhu Samithis in the State to show their anger against the anti-farmer Acts of the Centre and they should also demonstrate the combined force of the farming community.

The CM said no one could distract him from making agriculture and farmers profitable. He compared the situation of agriculture before formation of the state under the united AP rule and during the past six and half years. Apart from increase in extent of cultivation leaps and bounds, the output had also reached the dizzy heights. The FCI itself went on record to say that Telangana state had accounted for 65 per cent of its total Paddy procurement in the country. He also reminded that no other state in country is procuring Paddy as it was done in the State. He also said that no other state in the country not even the Centre is implementing a slew of programs, projects, policies and schemes for the agriculture sector and farmers as was done in the State.

Despite the state incurring a loss of Rs 50,000 crore due to corona pandemic, the state has purchased the produce in the village itself. The state purchased Maize at MSP knowing fully well that it would incur losses due to Centre’s policy of reducing the import duty on Corn. He said pro-farmer and pro-agriculture schemes like Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bhima, Rythu Vedikas, and 24-hour free power supply to farm sector and host of other schemes were initiated by his government without any one asking for it or made a demand for them.

Urging the farmers not to waste the opportunity given to them through Rythu Vedikas, the CM said his dream was to see that one day the Rythu Vedikas should become catalysts for a better change and the Rythu Bandhu Committee should take the responsibility to organize, coordinate, unite and motivate the farmers.

Reiterating that the welfare of the country is the welfare of farmers, the CM recalled his conversation with PM Modi on the need to stand by farmers and agriculture in the testing times of corona epidemic come what may. CM said that he told the PM that if our country suffers food shortage no country in the world is capable of feeling 135 Crore people in the country.

The CM exposed the cheap tricks and baseless allegations made by the Congress leaders. He also ridiculed the BJP leaders for spreading falsehoods about the Centre’s contribution to the pensions in the State. CM made a mention about farmers across the country protesting against the anti-farmer policies of the Centre with specific reference to Ramlila celebrations where people have even burnt PM Modi effigy.

The CM also spoke about the initiatives launched to strengthen the rural economy by supporting those sections of people who are dependent on agriculture, the hereditary professions and said he would soon launch a Dalit Chaitanya Jyothi program.

The Chief Minister made it abundantly clear that he wanted every farmer in the state with the extraordinary support provided by the government, should rise to the occasion, and should reach a stage where he should be able to clear all his dues and have about Rs 2 to 3 Lakh of funds with him as savings to invest into his cultivation on his own without taking any external financial support. ‘It is then that the real Bangaru Telangana is achieved’ the CM remarked.                       (With VJM Divakar)