Hyderabad

DeputyChief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Tuesday called on banks in Telangana to adopt a proactive approach in mitigating the financial burden on drought-hit farmers and vulnerable sectors impacted by El Niño.

Speaking at a special State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) meeting on ‘Drought Relief Measures for Kharif 2026’ at Praja Bhavan, the Deputy Chief Minister urged financial institutions to consider restructuring loans and tweaking interest rates to support affected borrowers.

Highlighting the severe impact of the failed monsoon on the agricultural sector, Bhatti Vikramarka noted that farmers had made exhaustive efforts to save their crops, as evidenced by the state's record peak power demand of 20,018 MW on October 16.

“A failed monsoon must not become a failed relationship between a farmer and his bank,” Bhatti Vikramarka said, appealing to bankers for benevolence.

Beyond agricultural relief, he requested financial institutions to extend assistance to students relying on education loans, women’s self-help groups, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and youth eligible under the upcoming Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme, scheduled for launch on November 19.