Annadata Sukhibhava scheme set to begin from Sankranti

·         Rs 20,000 will be deposited in farmers’ bank accounts

·         Rs 4,500 crore allocated in Budget

The Chandrababu Naidu-led government has allocated Rs 4,500 crore in the State budget for the "Annadata Sukhibhava" scheme, with plans to deposit Rs 20,000 directly into farmers' accounts. The initiative, which is set to begin during Sankranti 2025, aims to provide relief to farmers by adding State support to the Rs 6,000 provided by the Centre, bringing the total assistance to Rs 20,000.

The Annadata Sukhibhav scheme was a promise made by CM Chandrababu Naidu during the AP assembly election campaign, and he has been fulfilling numerous commitments made to voters, including the Mahalakshmi scheme, which provided free gas cylinders to women since Diwali. The Annadata Sukhibhav scheme, first introduced by the previous YSRCP government as "YSR Rythu Bharosa," has now been renamed and revamped by the current administration to further assist the state’s "rice donors."

Alongside this announcement, the AP government presented the State’s overall budget, with Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav proposing a total of Rs 2.94 lakh crore, prioritizing allocations across essential sectors. The Agriculture Minister Achchennaidu also presented a sector-specific agriculture budget of Rs 43,402 crore and provided further clarity on the eagerly anticipated Annadata Sukhibhav scheme, underscoring the government’s commitment to farmer welfare.