Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray may consider revamp in crop insurance scheme

MUMBAI: Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is said to have expressed concern about the lack of interest shown by private insurers in the PM’s crop insurance scheme. At a review of the agriculture department on Friday, he reportedly expressed the view that state insurance company could also be considered for the scheme.

The crop insurance scheme has come under criticism since the premium paid by the government to insurance companies has outstripped the compensation they pay for farmers in several seasons. This has led to the view that the scheme benefits insurance companies more than farmers. Also, private insurers have been reluctant to bid for areas in the state which witness frequent calamities and are considered “high risk”.

The Shiv Sena has led several protests against the crop insurance scheme in the past with Thackeray alleging that farmers had been denied compensation from insurance companies and that 90 lakh farmers had been declared ineligible for the scheme. Besides the crop insurance scheme, Thackeray was also apprised of the working of the PM Kisan scheme.

Thackeray also reviewed the schemes of the irrigation department and is said to have asked for a 1 year and 5 year action plan on the implementation of projects. “The CM was also concerned about the activities undertaken for flood management and the release of water by dams in the state in view of the recent floods,” said an official. Officials said that the government was monitoring the release of water from 47 dams in Krishna valley.

Source: The Times of India