Ryots in Vellore irked over poor payment of crop insurance 

Additionally, they also say that even though the Central government has recently announced Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) crop insurance scheme for other crops during the rabi season in 2019-20, only 20 of the State’s 32 districts were listed according to R Mullai, Tirupattur district secretary of the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam.

The secretary in a letter dated February 10, had requested the Tirupattur Collector MP Sivanarul to ensure that Vellore, Tirupattur and Ranipet districts were also covered by the Central government scheme as the announcement in the press included only 20 districts while 12 districts were left out. Talking to this reporter he said, “We as farmers wonder why the Central government has brought in private players into crop insurance schemes asvery rarely do farmers get timely compensation for crops damaged or lost. In 2017-18, against an overall need of Rs 150 lakh crore for all farmers, only Rs 60,000 crore was paid.”

Citing examples of various years when farmers were denied their due despite paying premium, he said, “I personally sought compensation for crop damage in 2015-16 and despite submitting all evidences including, video images of the damage, no compensation was paid till date.”

Stating that crop insurance was meant mainly for the delta districts, he cited the discrimination and expressed that all farmers across the State should be treated the same since it is the same fate when the crops are damaged.

Concurring with this view, the President of State farmers’ association of Ranipet district and a progressive farmer K Raja said, “We have attended many meetings at the Vellore Collector’s office where we were promised immediate payment into our bank accounts when the administration received the money. But it has not happened till now. When we visited our local cooperative society regarding this, we are casually told that they cannot do anything until they receive the money from government.”