Tadepalli: Former Minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao has called for the immediate reinstatement of the free crop insurance scheme, cautioning that the delay could fuel frustration among farmers. At a media conference held at the party office in Tadepalli, he criticized the TDP coalition government for disregarding farmer welfare, particularly by suspending the insurance scheme which had provided crucial support for five years.
Rao condemned the government’s failure to provide the promised annual payment of Rs 20,000 under the “Super Six” initiative, and highlighted the unpaid premium of Rs 930 crore for the 2023-24 season. This lapse, he said, left farmers who faced recent crop losses without the Rs 1,385 crore compensation they are entitled to. During the previous YSRCP government’s tenure, he noted, Rs 3,022.26 crore in premiums were paid on behalf of farmers, covering 52 lakh acres and benefiting 40 lakh farmers annually.
He further accused the coalition of undermining Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs), which had supported farmers across the entire agricultural process. Emphasizing the need for fair crop prices and reduced middleman influence, he demanded that the government promptly restore the free crop insurance scheme.
