Congress government’s stricter implementation of eligibility saved expenditure on Rythu Bharosa: Study
There was nearly 45% drop in expenditure under the head in 2024-25 as compared to 2023-24
The Congress government of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has been commended for its stringent enforcement of eligibility requirements for the Rythu Bharosa scheme, aimed at supporting farmers' investments. According to an independent study published by the Centre for Economic and Social Studies, this stricter approach led to a significant 45% reduction in expenditure, dropping from ₹13,576 crore in 2023-24 to ₹7,481 crore in 2024-25.
The study analyzed the performance of three major schemes—Rythu Bharosa, 24X7 free power, and Aasara pensions—since the Telangana region's inception. While these initiatives often encounter issues related to inaccuracies in including or excluding beneficiaries, success largely hinges on correctly targeting the intended recipients.
Initially introduced in 2018-19 under the Bharatiya Janata Party's rule to provide income support to all landowners, Rythu Bharosa has been plagued by misuse. Beneficiaries included absentee landowners, while tenants, who were the actual cultivators, received little to no benefit. For example, a field study revealed that the largest area beneficiaries, accounting for 20.5% of the scheme's aid, were absentee landowners, whereas tenants were left out.
Despite the absence of a cap on the area or number of acres, Rythu Bharosa continued to disproportionately benefit absentee landowners with the largest holdings. Upon the Congress party's ascension to power, stricter adherence to eligibility criteria resulted in a substantial decline in expenditure, even though the support amount was increased from ₹5,000 to ₹6,000 per acre.
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