Protest for crop insurance payout ends in scuffle at Ytl

Yavatmal: Agitation demanding insurance claim payout to farmers who have lost their crops due to excessive rains ended with a scuffle between Shiv Sena contact chief Santosh Dhawale and general manager of IFFCO Tokio General Insurance Company Limited Sachin Suroshe here on Monday.

Responding to the call by sitting Sena MP from Yavatmal-Washim Bhavana Gawali, a large number of farmers from across the district had gathered at local SBI Square to stage a dharna.

At the end of the ‘Jawab Do’ agitation, a delegation led by Gawali and her supporters met Suroshe, who had come to the city to hear grievances of the farmers. During the meeting, Gawali demanded compensation payout to over 4.50 lakh farmers in the district who had paid premium to the company under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The company has released compensation to only 9,776 farmers in the district so far.

The MP said preliminary survey report submitted by district agriculture department has confirmed heavy damage to crops like soyabean and cotton. “The insurance company should pay compensation on the basis of the department’s report,” said Gawali. Dissatisfied over the insurance company official’s reply, Dhawale allegedly threw soyabean seeds at Suroshe and attempted to thrash him by holding his collar. Suroshe's office employees and police rescued the general manager and took him away from the spot.

Soon thereafter, Gawali left the meeting saying she would solve the matter using Sena tactics. Those who attended the meeting with insurance company officials included former MLA Balasaheb Mungantiwar, Sena city chief Pintu Bankar, Mahesh Pawar of Swamini Janandolan, Ashok Bhutada and others.

Source: The Times of India