If required, will directly consult farmers for every single rupee of rightful claim: Agriculture minister Shivraj Chouhan asserts Fasal Bima Yojana in Maharashtra

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Friday that if required, he will directly consult with farmers to ensure that every single rupee of rightful claim reaches them, asserting that every rupee of compensation owed to farmers would be delivered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

The minister also announced that the State Government would provide immediate compensation to farmers for crop losses, and that additional financial aid would be extended through the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). “If the state government seeks a special relief package from the centre after conducting its damage assessment, the Government of India will leave no stone unturned to fulfil that request,” he said.

Chouhan was speaking at a congregation of 20,000 farmers in Maharashtra, where he referred to his recent review meeting with insurance companies in Delhi. Chouhan said that he had personally interacted with farmers from Maharashtra to ensure the correctness of claim settlements and to identify and remove discrepancies. “The state government will assess crop losses through the Crop Cutting Experiment, and compensation will be provided accordingly under the Fasal Bima Yojana,” he added.

Earlier during the week, the minister had come down heavily on complaints pertaining to obnoxiously low claim settlement in Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, ranging from ₹1, ₹3, ₹5 and ₹21 in some cases, saying that the government will not allow “mockery” of the farmers. Chouhan also launched a detailed investigation into the matter. “Receiving claims of ₹1, ₹3, ₹5, or ₹21 is a mockery of farmers, and the government will not allow this to continue,” he had said.

“Chouhan ordered a thorough investigation into it, gave strict instructions to insurance companies and officials in favour of farmers, and emphasised that claims must be paid quickly and simultaneously. The damage assessment must be done through an accurate system, and he instructed officials to make necessary amendments to the scheme provisions to remove inconsistencies,” said a release from the ministry.

During the meeting, the minister connected virtually with some farmers from Maharashtra and listened to their concerns directly, demanding answers from officials, according to a release from the ministry. He clearly stated that farmers will not be troubled under any circumstances, the ministry said.

“Chouhan ordered the CEO of the Pradhan Manti Fasal Bima Yojana to conduct thorough on-field investigations into such cases where claims are around ₹1,₹2, or ₹5 and to also talk to local collectors and insured farmers to ascertain the reality,” the ministry said.