ANANTAPUR: State president of Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham affiliated to All-India Kisan Sabha and CPI K. Ramakrishna has alleged that the GO issued by the State Government for appointment of `model farmers' as `rural agriculture scientists' is intended only to extend Government assistance to Congress workers.

Talking to newspersons here on Saturday, he said without defining qualifications and criteria for selection of model farmers and absence of any guidelines, the `appointment' of rural agriculture scientists would be a farce. Only Congress workers suggested by party leaders were set to become rural scientists and claim a monthly honorarium of Rs. 1,500.

Such politicised appointments would neither help develop the agriculture sector nor benefit the farmers in improving their knowledge with the help of new practices, he observed. The system would enable the Government help ruling party workers with public exchequer directly, he alleged.

He wanted the State Government to rethink on the GO and issue fresh guidelines indicating a transparent selection system.

As per the GO issued by the Government the Mandal Parishad Development Officers would select model farmers and the lists would be finalised by the district in-charge Ministers.

Science city

The APRS leader also criticised the Government for not making public details about the proposed Odyssey Science City so far. There was no transparency in the project and people were denied information about it, even three months after its announcement.

The Government had not even mentioned which villages would be covered under the project and the rehabilitation package being thought of.

The issue could well be debated in the Assembly as the session was currently in progress, Mr. Ramakrishna said. He also wanted a debate on land assignment and land scams going on all over the State. The Government had failed to name the persons in whose control about 10 lakh assigned lands were lying illegally, he said.

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