VIJAYAWADA:The promised pensions of Rs 2,500 for landless farmhands in the capital region are yet to reach the beneficiaries identified by the government.
Not a single farmhand has been paid the pension and there is no clarification on when the dues would be paid. There are a total number of 41,319 farmer families in 26 villages in the capital region of the state of whom only 12,319 are farmers who own lands and the rest are landless agricultural workers who either work in the fields or become tenant farmers.
Out of the 29,358 farmhands, only 16,602 were identified as eligible for the government’s special pension scheme of Rs 2,500 per month and out of them only 10,912 were recommended as beneficiaries. Though it was supposed to be implemented from June itself, distribution of pensions to the beneficiaries under the scheme has started just 10 days ago.
Out of total 10,912, only 1,344 were paid the pensions for the July month only and there was no clarity from the officials as to when the dues for April, May and June would be paid to them. In fact, out of the 26 villages, beneficiaries of only 10 villages were paid the pension and the rest of them are in a dilemma as to when they would receive the promised pension.
“This is how farmhands are being treated in the capital region. Since the capital announcement was made and land pooling commenced, there has been no farming activity and their livelihood has been severely affected ,” said Ch Babu Rao, CPM capital region convener.
The Left leader warned of a massive agitation if the government fails to distribute pensions to each and every one of the beneficiary immediately. He said that though the government, which had several of its ministers camping in the capital region to take away lands from farmers and had gone to them with cheques to appease them, there has been no mention of farmhands.