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BRS govt’s hit Rythu Bandhu scheme has a glitch, leaving seeds of hope for Congress | Political Pulse News

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The talk in the fields in Station Ghanpur in Medak Assembly constituency, where freshly harvested paddy is being bagged, is about the Congress’s promises.

The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), they acknowledge, has a lot of schemes. But the Congress is offering more of everything the BRS is providing. Plus, there is a complaint about Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s much-coveted Rythu Bandhu farmers’ assistance programme, as voiced passionately by R Veeraiah, a farmer in Ramayampet.

“Why am I angry? My neighbour has 6 acres of land and receives Rs 60,000 as Rythu Bandhu per year. I own 1 acre and receive Rs 10,000. My neighbour does not even cultivate his land, gives it on lease, but he still gets richer every year. Why is the government neglecting the poor while rewarding the rich?”

It’s not KCR though (as the CM is popularly known) whom Veeraiah directs his anger at, but his local MLA, Padma Devender Reddy. “The local BRS MLAs have done nothing and just watched the rich landlords get richer. Padma could have told KCR there are more small farmers in the district and got them more investment support, but she did not do it,” he says.

The group of about 15 farmers and farm workers with Veeraiah are all agreed that whichever party forms the government, welfare schemes are here to stay – it is just a matter of which party will give more. And they are willing to try the Congress come November 30, after nearly a decade under the BRS or the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) as it was earlier known, ever since the new state was formed in 2014.

Festive offer

“We will consider which party makes our lives easier, and vote accordingly,” says Lachmamma.

The KCR government introduced the Rythu Bandhu scheme in May 2018. Under the flagship scheme, Rs 5,000 is provided per acre per farmer each season, or Rs 10,000 per acre every year. In 2018-19, 50.25 lakh farmers were covered under the scheme. In 2023, the number of farmers covered is up to 70 lakh, mainly due to the fragmentation of land among families.

Rythu Bandhu budget allocations

According to the 2022 State Statistical Report, marginal (less than 2.47 acres) and small farmers (2.48 to 4.94 acres) account for 91.33%, or 59.36 lakh, of Telangana’s farmers. Those with land holdings more than 9.89 acres make up just 1.39%, or 90,449, of the total farmers.

As per disbursements in December 2022-January 2023, 22.55 lakh farmers owning less than an acre of land received a total of Rs 642.52 crore. The 16.98 lakh farmers with 1 to 2 acres received Rs 1,278 crore, 10.89 lakh farmers with 2 to 3 acres received Rs 1,131 crore, 4.89 lakh farmers with 3 to 4 acres received Rs 1,047 crore, 1.52 lakh farmer with 4 to 5 acres received Rs 265.18 crore, and about 50,000 farmers with 5 to 6 acres got Rs 136.54 crore.

Rythu bandhu disbursement

At its launch, the government allocated Rs 12,000 crore for the scheme. The budget for this Rabi season is Rs 7,676 crore.

BRS working president K T Rama Rao, who is also KCR’s son and a minister in the government, says they too have come to realise that the design of the scheme was inadvertently skewed towards big farmers, and are planning a review. Sources in the BRS said the scheme’s eligibility may be restricted to farmers owning up to 4-5 acres if the party returns to power for a third time.

Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy argues that despite the problems with how the scheme was designed, about 92.5% of beneficiaries under Rythu Bandhu were still small and marginal farmers owning less than 10 acres of land. Besides, Reddy says, the Rs 10,000 directly going into their bank accounts for the year was better than the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan), under which every agricultural household with less than 2 hectares of cultivable land gets Rs 6,000 per annually.

In its poll manifesto, the BRS has promised to increase the scheme’s annual benefit to Rs 16,000 per acre in the next five years. The Congress has bettered this by promising Rs 15,000 per acre for farmers and Rs 12,000 to tenant farmers every year immediately on forming the government.

Near Raghunathpally in Station Ghanpur, P Naresh, who makes iron grilles, is also looking at the Congress, saying it is more likely to fulfill its promises.

“If an Opposition party promises more than the ruling party, that is better. Voters must encash on this race for more freebies, more benefits, and more promises, and vote for that party. The BRS is struggling to find money to fund welfare schemes. The Congress is a national party, maybe a Congress government can find more funds,” Naresh reasons.

In Narsapur, an Assembly segment in Medak district, V Satiaiah, who is also a farmer, wants the next government to give him more old-age pension as well as Rythu Bandhu benefits. “Had KCR restricted the number of acres eligible for Rythu Bandhu, more funds would have been available for small farmers. Instead we see rich landowners buying new cars or adding new floors to their houses from the funds,” Satiaiah says, adding: “There is a lot of talk about the Congress this time, let’s see.”

In Venkatraopet village, M Satyanarayana, a small-holding farmer who is thankful for the Rythu Bandhu funds and old-age pension since the schemes were launched, is also looking at the Congress. Similar voices, from small farmers, pensioners, rural women are heard across Medak.

This discontent is worrying for the BRS, as it had swept the undivided Medak district in both 2018 (9 of 10 Assembly seats) and 2014 (8).

Assembly seats map

The BRS’s two-time Medak MLA Padma has started reaching out to the small farmers. “I vow that if re-elected, I will ensure small farmers receive more financial assistance. Several BRS legislators have already conveyed it to our top leadership. This injustice shall not continue,” she says.

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Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, chairperson of the Rythu Bandhu Samithi and the BRS candidate from Jangaon, adds that while he acknowledges some problems with the scheme, they will not hurt the party. “I don’t think it will affect the BRS’s chances of making a clean sweep for the third time… Small farmers don’t receive only Rythu Bandhu benefits, but also crop insurance, life insurance, while some of them additionally get pensions, Dalit Bandhu. It is not that everyone is turning against the BRS,” says Palla, who is currently an MLC.

However, for now, the expectations are outstripping what the BRS has to offer.

In Station Ghanpur constituency’s Nellutla village, a group of women sitting outside their homes watch BRS candidate Kadiyam Srihari’s convoy pass by. Pointing to the small houses in the village, Renuka, a farm worker, says: “Not a single new house has been constructed in this village with government assistance in the last 10 years. We are struggling to pay off farm loans. KCR promised to waive them, but did not. The bank people harass us daily. We keep hearing of BRS schemes, but except a small amount of Rs 5,000 from Rythu Bandhu once every six months, we have not seen anything.”

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Circle to Search: Share part of your screen!

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According to recent reports, Circle to Search, a feature introduced with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series in January 2024, might soon undergo an upgrade. Initially allowing users to copy text from selected areas, it’s now rumored to include the capability to capture and share screenshots of specific screen sections.

This enhanced functionality, observed in the latest version of Circle to Search, enables users to not only copy text but also capture and share screen images. A video shared by a tipster on X showcased this update, revealing new options of Copy and Share upon selecting an area. Even adjustments to the selected region don’t remove these options, ensuring a seamless experience. Users can either copy the image to the clipboard for further editing or share it directly through various apps.

Previously, the visual lookup feature solely facilitated text copying. While Android devices offer a three-finger swipe-down gesture for quick screenshots, it captures the entire screen, necessitating subsequent cropping. This new functionality streamlines the process, allowing users to select and share specific screen sections in just two steps.

Interestingly, Google recently addressed concerns about accidental activations of Circle to Search in a podcast featuring its developers. They acknowledged the issue and assured users of an impending fix. This indicates ongoing efforts to refine the feature for a smoother user experience.

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Discounted OnePlus Nord CE 3 price in India: Check it out!

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The OnePlus Nord CE 3 has recently undergone another price reduction in India, marking a significant update for potential buyers. Initially introduced to the Indian market in June 2023, this smartphone received its first price adjustment in November of the same year. The base variant, featuring 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, was notably listed at a price Rs. 2,000 lower than its launch price, signaling OnePlus’s commitment to providing competitive pricing to its customers.

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset and ships with the Android 13-based operating system. It boasts a triple rear camera setup, enhancing its photography capabilities, and supports SuperVOOC charging, ensuring rapid replenishment of its battery. The inclusion of these features positions the Nord CE 3 as a compelling option for smartphone enthusiasts seeking a balance between performance, affordability, and innovation.

The recent unveiling of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 in India marks the continuation of OnePlus’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology to its users. Serving as the successor to the Nord CE 3, the Nord CE 4 is expected to build upon the strengths of its predecessor while introducing new enhancements and features to further elevate the user experience.

When considering the revised pricing of the OnePlus Nord CE 3, it’s evident that OnePlus aims to make its devices more accessible to a wider audience. The reduction in price, particularly on platforms like Amazon and the OnePlus India website, presents an opportunity for consumers to acquire a high-quality smartphone at a more affordable rate.

Let’s delve deeper into the specifications and features of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 to understand its capabilities and appeal to potential buyers.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Price in India (Revised)

The base variant of the OnePlus Nord CE 3, featuring 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, was initially launched in India at Rs. 26,999. Following its first price cut in November, the price was reduced to Rs. 24,999. Now, the same variant is available on Amazon at Rs. 22,990, representing a Rs. 2,009 reduction from its previous price. Furthermore, customers can benefit from an additional flat Rs. 2,000 instant discount on ICICI and HDFC Bank cards, bringing the effective price down to Rs. 20,990.

On the OnePlus India website, the 8GB + 128GB variant is priced at Rs. 22,999, marking a Rs. 2,000 decrease from the November price of Rs. 24,999. It is worth noting that this discount is exclusively applicable to the 128GB model, as the higher-end 256GB variant is currently listed as out of stock.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Specifications and Features

Display:

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 boasts a 6.7-inch full-HD+ fluid AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,080 x 2,412 pixels. With a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, users can enjoy smooth and fluid visuals, enhancing their overall viewing experience.

Processor and Performance:

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G SoC, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 delivers robust performance and efficient multitasking capabilities. With up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of onboard storage, users can seamlessly navigate between apps and store their multimedia content with ease.

Operating System:

The smartphone ships with Android 13-based OxygenOS 13.1, providing users with a clean and intuitive user interface coupled with a plethora of customization options. OxygenOS is known for its smooth performance and timely software updates, ensuring that users stay up-to-date with the latest features and security patches.

Camera:

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 features a versatile camera setup, comprising a 50-megapixel primary sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS) support. Accompanying this primary sensor is an 8-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2-megapixel macro shooter, allowing users to capture a wide range of subjects with stunning detail and clarity. On the front, the device houses a 16-megapixel sensor for high-quality selfies and video calls.

Battery and Charging:

Equipped with a robust 5,000mAh battery, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 offers ample battery life to power through a full day of usage. Additionally, the device supports 80W wired SuperVOOC charging, enabling users to quickly replenish the battery and minimize downtime.

Connectivity:

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 supports a comprehensive range of connectivity options, including 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, GPS, and USB Type-C. Whether it’s streaming multimedia content, browsing the web, or staying connected with friends and family, users can rely on the Nord CE 3 to deliver seamless connectivity and performance.

Security:

For enhanced security, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 features an in-display fingerprint sensor, allowing users to conveniently unlock their device with a simple touch. This biometric authentication method adds an extra layer of protection to safeguard sensitive data and personal information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 offers a compelling combination of performance, affordability, and innovation, making it an attractive choice for smartphone enthusiasts in India. With its recent price reduction and competitive specifications, the Nord CE 3 presents a compelling value proposition for consumers seeking a high-quality smartphone experience without breaking the bank. As OnePlus continues to innovate and introduce new features with each iteration, the Nord CE 3 stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to delivering exceptional devices tailored to the needs of its users.

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Namma Yatri launches cab service in Bengaluru

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In its largest market, Bengaluru, ride-hailing company Namma Yatri has expanded its services to include cab-hailing, marking a significant shift from its previous focus on auto rickshaws. Namma Yatri, known for pioneering a daily subscription model as opposed to the commission-based model utilized by competitors like Ola and Uber, had initially concentrated on auto rickshaws in Bengaluru. However, it now features a distinct section on its app dedicated to booking cabs in the city. Additionally, Namma Yatri already provides cab rides in Kochi and Kolkata.

The decision to venture into cab services follows Namma Yatri’s separation from its former parent company, Justpay, and comes on the heels of a reported expansion plan announced on April 1st. The move also aligns with the broader trend observed in the industry, as both Ola and Uber have recently introduced subscription-based plans for auto-rickshaw drivers on their platforms. This strategic shift towards subscription-based models, akin to Namma Yatri’s approach, as well as that of Rapido, highlights a growing preference within the industry for alternative pricing structures beyond traditional booking fees or commissions.

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