“Lakhs of Odisha farmers suffering due to PMFBY non-settlement of claims”
BJD demanded Central Government to intervene for early settlement of the claims of the farmers
Bhubaneswar(Kalinga Voice) : “Lakhs of Odisha farmers suffering due to Pradhana Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) non-settlement of claims. Claims amounting to more than Rs 1000 crores not settled by insurance companies under PMFBY”, alleged BJD Spokesperson and RajyaSabha MP Dr. Sasmit Patra
In a press meet Dr Patra alleged that ” lakhs of Odisha farmers are affected by the Pradhan Mantri Fasal BimaYojana (PMFBY) across Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Deogarh, Bolangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi
districts of Odisha. Over the past five years, Rs 1.26 lakh crores have been paid as crop insurance premium across India and Rs 87,320 crore received as claims. The insurance companies made Rs. 40,000 Crores of PMFBY money, affecting the interests of the farmers.”
Dr Patra further said ” In Odisha, the Odisha Government has paid Rs. 3250.48 Crores so far and Odisha farmers have paid Rs. 1009.84 Crores to the insurance companies so far. Adding the Centre’s share, the total payment is Rs. 7510.8 Crores till Kharif 2021. Till Kharif 2020, the total premium paid to insurance companies was Rs. 6163.28 Crores while the payment by the insurance companies to claims of farmers was Rs. 5098.64 Crores. Thus, the Insurance Companies profited to an amount of Rs. 1064.64 Crores, which is 17.27% of the total Premium Paid.”
“In Odisha between 2018-2020, farmers filed crop insurance claims of Rs. 2090 crores but insurance companies paid only 50% of those claims amounting to Rs. 1026 Crores. The farmers of Odisha are facing repeated harassment by the insurance companies relating to the assessment of their claims and payment under PMFBY. Six states namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Telangana and West Bengal have opted out of PMFBY and total area insured has also gone down by 73 lakh hectares (from 567 lakh hectare in 2016-17 to 495 lakh hectare in 2019-20).” added Dr Patra .
The BJD Rajyasabha MP urged the Union Government that It is high time that the Union Government rectifies these issues and help the farmers in times of distress. It should use new technological innovations such as drones to clear assessment of claims expeditiously and allow only Government insurance companies to undertake PMFBY in order to safeguard the interests of the farmers.”
Dr Patra further said that, BJD MPs have repeatedly taken this up in both Houses of Parliament. We will continue to fight for our farmers till their claims are settled.
Total Farmer’s Share = Rs. 1009.84 Crores
Total State Share = Rs. 3250.48 Crores
Total Centre Share = Rs. 3250.48 Crores
Total Premium Paid = Rs. 7510.8 Crores
Total Claims Paid = Rs. 5098.64 Crores (Till Kharif 2020)
Total Premium Paid = Rs. 6163.28 Crores (Till Kharif 2020)
Total Amount that Insurance Companies made= Rs. 1064.64 Crores (17.27% of total Premium Paid)
