Notice to government on farmers’ petition over insurance payment for crop failure

The Division Bench comprising Justice S. Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad before whom the PIL moved by Farmers Legal Movement came up directed Government Pleader T N Rajagopalan to take notice and posted the matter for further hearing to September 27.

The petitioner had contended that the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana (PMFBY) was introduced by the Centre to cover damages suffered by farmers/crops from natural calamities such as heavy rains, floods, cyclones, severe droughts and other factors.

In a bid to ensure smoother and efficient implementation of the above the Union Ministry of Agriculture and farmers welfare issued a set of operational guidelines with the Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture Co-operation and Farmers Welfare acting as the chairman of National level monitoring committee. 

Similarly, the State level co-ordination committee on crop insurance (SLCCCI) consists the secretary, department of Agriculture, and the director of Agriculture while the New India Assurance company is the insurance agency under the scheme which is required to co-ordinate with both the Central and State Government agencies for the implementation of the above scheme.

While so due to shortage of rainfall, severe drought and non-availability of Cauvery water, farmers suffered nil yield in 33 revenue villages in Tamil Nadu. Based on this, agriculturalists are entitled to get Rs. 62,500 per hectare which is 100 per cent as per the guidelines of the Scheme and the insurance company ought to have paid this amount within June 2017 to all the claimants as they have paid the premium.

But after several representations only 25 per cent of the claim was paid and that too in April and May 2018 after a delay of 10 months, the petitioner alleged and sought the Court’s direction to enable them to get the balance claim.