Y.S. Sharmila Accuses AP Government Of Diluting Annadata Sukhibhava Scheme

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee President Y. S. Sharmila on Sunday accused the state government of failing to deliver its promised financial support to farmers under the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme and demanded an apology to the farming community for what she termed as unfulfilled commitments.

In a post on social media platform X, Sharmila alleged that the scheme had steadily lost its intended scope over the past three years, leaving a large number of eligible farmers without assistance. She claimed that although the state has around 80 lakh eligible farmers , investment support this year is being extended to only 46.86 lakh beneficiaries , leaving nearly 30 lakh farmers outside the programme.

The Congress leader alleged that the government failed to effectively implement the scheme in its first year, reduced the number of beneficiaries in the second year, and further diluted its coverage in the third year. According to her, the programme has been scaled down significantly, contrary to the promises made to the farming community.

Sharmila also criticised the government’s handling of agricultural issues, alleging shortcomings in crop compensation, minimum support prices, crop insurance, and fertiliser supply . She further claimed that tenant farmers were misled with assurances regarding the issuance of recognition cards and inclusion in welfare measures.

Targeting the ruling alliance of the TDP, Jana Sena and BJP , she alleged that their policies had made farming more burdensome rather than profitable. Sharmila recalled that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had previously stated that the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme was separate from the Centre’s support programmes and had promised assistance of Rs 20,000 per farmer .

She argued that the state government should provide the full promised amount independently, without counting the Rs 6,000 assistance given under the Centre’s PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.

The APCC chief also demanded that tenant farmers be brought under the ambit of Annadata Sukhibhava. Failing that, she said, the coalition government should apologise to farmers for not honouring its election commitments.