State govt may implement crop insurance scheme: MP

Yavatmal: Lok Sabha member from Yavatmal-Washim constituency Bhavana Gawali on Monday said Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has agreed to forward her proposal for implementation of the ‘Pantha Pradhan Fasal Vima Yojana’.

The crop insurance scheme is presently being implemented through private companies. In Yavatmal, it is via IFFCO Tokyo insurance and in Washim, it’s Reliance Insurance. Both companies are allegedly cheating poor farmers. Their crops are either damaged by the excessive rains or drought. Insurance companies collect premium from the farmers, state and central governments.

Whenever it’s time to pay the compensation, companies offer lame excuses to beneficiaries. Farmers are deprived of compensation after suffering losses. “As farmers approach public representatives for help, we have to fight for their rights,” said Gawali, adding, she had led a protest on December 28 to draw the attention of the companies.

“A discussion with the general manager of IFFCO Tokyo Insurance didn’t yield the desired result. Finally, I met CM Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai and briefed him about the hardships faced by the farmers and the adamant attitude of insurance companies. Uddhav ji declared that farmers would not be allowed to become victims of insurance companies. He said a proposal would be sent to the central government. The CM summoned agriculture secretary Eknath Dhawale and instructed him to send the proposal to the centre with a request that either the state government or the National Agriculture Insurance company be given the nod to implement the PM crop insurance scheme aimed to help farmers,” said Gawli.

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