Tadepalli, July 29: YSRCP has slammed the TDP government for its false propaganda on crop insurance, stating that it has no moral ground to speak after abandoning farmers during its earlier tenure.
In a statement released by YSRCP Agriculture Wing President and former Vice Chairman of AP Agriculture Mission, M.V.S. Nagi Reddy, it was clarified that the remarks made by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan in the Lok Sabha lacked complete details regarding the role of the YSRCP-led government. Taking advantage of that, TDP and yellow media are spreading misinformation without understanding the facts.
The credit for providing free crop insurance to farmers belongs solely to YSRCP. The Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government even tried to establish its own insurance company to support farmers. However, central officials at the time informed that Fasal Bima would not be extended if the State proceeded independently. Still, the State implemented the scheme successfully for two years without central support.
Between 2014 and 2019, under TDP, farmers had to pay their own premiums. Only 30.85 lakh farmers were covered, and just Rs 3,411.2 crore was disbursed. In contrast, under YSRCP from 2019 to 2023, 54.55 lakh farmers were covered under free crop insurance, and Rs 7,802.5 crore was paid out. The entire premium burden was taken on by the State government.
The successful outcomes under YS Jagan’s leadership even attracted the attention of the Central Government, which proposed integrating PM Fasal Bima Yojana with the YSR Free Crop Insurance Scheme. This was discussed with the then Chief Minister by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar through video conference. The PIB release dated July 12, 2022, confirms this.
Today’s Lok Sabha statement did not present the full picture. Withholding these details, TDP is attempting to mislead the public. After returning to power, Chandrababu Naidu abandoned the free insurance scheme. For 2023–24, his government failed to pay the required premium. Even the June 2024 installment was not paid, leading to a loss of around Rs 1,385 crore in claims for lakhs of farmers.
The TDP government is now collecting premiums from farmers, and many are left out of the insurance scheme. Injustice continues as farmers struggle without support.
Moreover, Chandrababu failed to fulfill the Rythu Bharosa promise of Rs 20,000. Last year, no installment was paid. This year, despite the season being well underway, no payment has been made. Though the Chief Minister said it would be disbursed on June 21, it is yet to happen.
During the five-year YSRCP rule, 53.58 lakh farmers received timely Rythu Bharosa benefits totaling Rs 34,228 crore. In contrast, the current government skipped the first year entirely and is now cutting down the number of beneficiaries. The disbursement timeline remains uncertain.
He said that after inflicting such damage on the farming community, it is shameful for the TDP to resort to falsehoods and diversionary tactics.
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