Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday disbursed crop insurance and input subsidy worth ₹1,451 crore among farmers of the district at the ‘Rythu krutagnata sabha’ organised in Muktapuram village of Raptadu Assembly constituency. Earlier, the Chief Minister reached the village by a helicopter from Puttaparthi. Mr. Naidu inaugurated a housing colony, comprising 134 units of which construction of 32 had been completed. Addressing the farmers in Muktapuram, he sanctioned 200 units for the housing colony following a request made by Women and Child Welfare Minister Paritala Sunita. Lauding the facilities provided in the housing colony, he termed it as a “smart village.” Referring to the crop insurance and input subsidy disbursed among the farmers, Mr. Naidu said: “We have helped you [farmers] like no other government did. You are being given ₹1,032 crore towards input subsidy and ₹419 crore towards crop insurance.” “Such a thing has not been done by any government in a single year to the farmers of the district,” Mr. Naidu said, and added: “Each of you will get ₹15,000 into your accounts. In the last two years, I have given around ₹2,018 crore towards input subsidy and crop insurance.” Stating that he would take complete responsibility of not only the crop but also the yield, Mr. Naidu said if there were no rains, water would be ensured through rain guns and by adopting techniques such as drip irrigation. Drip irrigation “This year alone, we are providing drip irrigation equipment to cater to the needs of 32 lakh acres at 90% subsidy,” he said. Mr. Naidu further said mobile lift irrigation was being taken up in the district to ensure that all tanks were filled from the nearest HNSS and TBPHLC canals. The meeting was attended by Ministers K. Srinivasulu and Devineni Umamaheswara Rao. District Collector Veerapandian was present. Source - http://www.thehindu.com