KTR calls for protest against Centre's allegations of diversion of MGNREGS funds

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president and Telangana minister K.T. Rama Rao on Thursday gave a call for protest at all district headquarters on Friday against the Centre's malicious and misinformation campaign about the implementation of the Employment Guarantee Scheme in Telangana.

Terming the Central government's action as vengeful, KTR said the construction of agri-produce drying platforms under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) benefits farmers. He reminded that the Centre has allowed states with coastal lines to build fish drying platforms under the MGNREGS. KTR lamented that the Centre did not heed Telangana's request despite bringing this to its notice.

He said the Centre is spreading misinformation by stating that the construction of the drying platforms is a diversion of MGNREGS funds. KTR said the Central government served a notice to the state asking to return Rs. 151 crores spent on the construction of drying platforms under the scheme. He said the Central government is bent on maligning and conspiring against the Telangana government without considering the benefits such works accrue to farmers.

KTR said multiple requests sent by the Telangana government and BRS to the Central government on integrating agriculture and allied activities with the Employment Guarantee Scheme were not considered favorably. He said at a time when employment opportunities have come down after the Covid-19 pandemic and the rural economy is in crisis, the Centre reduced funds allotted to NREGS and imposed various rules. With this, he said, the Narendra Modi-led government prevented the construction of 79,000 more drying platforms with Rs. 750 crores by Telangana state.

Questioning what is wrong if the Employment Guarantee Scheme benefits farmers, KTR reiterated the demand to include agriculture and allied works under the scheme. The BRS working president said this will help farmers as the hike in prices of fertilizers and fuel has increased the investment cost in farming.

He said that with pioneering schemes such as Rythu Bandhu and round-the-clock free power, Telangana is a role model to the country in the agriculture sector. Modi-led Central government is attributing ill intentions to the state government's efforts to further strengthen the sector, KTR said. He gave a call to all leaders and members of the party to stage protests at district headquarters against the Centre's discriminatory attitude towards Telangana.