HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s brainchild “Rythu Bandhu” scheme, aimed at providing investment support to farmers, has drawn the attention of none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sources said that when Governor ESL Narasimhan called on the Prime Minister in New Delhi on Wednesday, Modi enquired about the implementation of Rythu Bandhu and felt that such welfare measures would help in providing much-needed support to peasants.
Sources informed that the Governor told the Prime Minister that Rs 12,000 crore was being spent to provide Rs 4,000 to each farmer per crop per acre during every sowing season under the Rythu Bandhu scheme. Highly-placed sources told Express that during the one-hour-long meeting, the Governor had submitted a report to the Prime Minister on recent developments in both the Telugu states, with a special focus on AP, where TDP and BJP have been crossing swords.
After taking part in the two-day conference of Governors held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital which was addressed by President Ramnath Kovind on Monday and Tuesday, the Governor met the Prime Minister on Wednesday. Sources said that during the meeting, Narasimhan explained to Modi about the pending issues between AP and Telangana.
It is understood that the Governor also informed the PM about the Telangana Cabinet’s decision to create seven zones and two multi-zones that will govern postings and promotions of government employees in the new state. As the Governor needs to advise the Centre on this key issue as the Union Cabinet will have to take a call on it, Narasimhan’s meeting with Modi assumes significance.
It may be mentioned that CM K Chandrasekhar Rao called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi a few days ago and requested him to amend the Presidential Order with regard to zonal system in the erstwhile united AP, created as per Section 371 D of the Constitution. The AP Public Employment (Organisation of Local Cadres and Regulation of Direct Recruitment) Order, 1975, commonly known as Presidential Order, in the then united State provided for six zones. After bifurcation, of the six zones, two zones (V and VI) are within Telangana, while other four zones are in AP. Sources, however, said there is a remote possibility of the Centre giving its assent to the new zonal system proposed in TS, as there are legal hurdles to amend the existing Presidential Order.