A lot is being said about the Rs 6000 direct benefit transfer that the BJP Government at the Centre has announced in its budget on Friday. Everyone is claiming credit for the game-changer scheme. The TRS has claimed that Modi has copied the scheme from them. But, even before KCR announced the scheme, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is implementing the scheme in his state. Also, Mamta Banerjee claimed credit for the scheme. Interstingly, her scheme too has been in force for quite sometime. Of course, not many know that it was YSRCP chief YS Jagan has announced direct cash benefit scheme way back in March 2017, much before any of these leaders even thought about it. He made this announcement in the March 2017 plenary of the party. In fact, this is part of the much-touted Navaratnas that YS Jagan has announced at the plenary. In fact, YS Jagan has announced that the farmers will get direct cash input assistance to a tune of Rs 50000 per annum.
Interestingly, when Jagan announced this scheme, there was alround criticism from the political class that what Jagan was promising was impossible to implement. They also asked wherefrom Jagan will get all this money to pay the farmers. But today, state after state is now implementing the same. In fact, the credit for this idea should go to Jagan's economic advisor Somayajulu, who passed away last year. It goes to Jagan's credit that he has understood the importance of this idea and actively promoted this idea.
Interestingly, when Jagan announced this scheme, there was alround criticism from the political class that what Jagan was promising was impossible to implement. They also asked wherefrom Jagan will get all this money to pay the farmers. But today, state after state is now implementing the same. In fact, the credit for this idea should go to Jagan's economic advisor Somayajulu, who passed away last year. It goes to Jagan's credit that he has understood the importance of this idea and actively promoted this idea.