Crop insurance eludes farmers as VAOs fail to include adangal records

Vellore

“Subordinate revenue officials not including crop details has resulted in denial of insurance amount for drought affected crops to farmers,” said Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, youth wing state general secretary R Subash to DT Next. The insurance amount for crops destroyed in natural calamities was being disbursed only based on the adangal records, he explained.

According to Subash, paddy and groundnut crops were withering in large tracts in both Sholingur and Nemili taluks of Ranipet district. Revealing how farmers have been affected for the second year in succession, the farmers leader said, “After my alert with photographic evidence regarding the drought in both regions, agricultural officials agreed to inspect the areas soon. But they are yet to come.”Elaborating on the issue, Subash said, “Agricultural officials asked me to suggest farmers to opt for crop insurance in case their crops are affected by drought. But, as VAOs refuse to come for field inspections – they prefer to get details at their offices only – it results in poor and marginal farmers suffering huge losses.”

Paddy has been affected for 15 acres in one stretch in Karunavur and Siruvalayam village in Sholingur taluk. However, when farmers raised the issue with former collector SA Raman, he said it was a hydrological drought and, hence, farmers could not be compensated.