Procurement delays expose Congress government’s poor planning in Telangana

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s lack of planning and weak administrative control have once again come under scrutiny during the ongoing procurement season. Several recent developments indicate that the Congress government responded to key issues only after pressure from the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

BRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao held a massive public meeting in Jagityal on April 20. Soon after the meeting, the State government began depositing the second instalment of the Rythu Bharosa scheme. Though the government had promised to release the amount within 20 days of the first instalment on March 22, the payment was



delayed.

Farmers and BRS leaders staged protests across the State over delays in procurement and inadequate arrangements at procurement centres. Following mounting criticism, the Chief Minister conducted a video conference with District Collectors on May 12 and directed officials to complete procurement in mission mode.

On Sunday, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao announced that the government would procure additional stocks of maize, jowar and sunflower from farmers this season. Farmers had been demanding procurement support for several weeks, while the State government continued to blame the Centre over the issue.