Scheme must for farmers under debt

Tribune News Service

Ambala, July 25

Bhupinder Singh, Director, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, has said the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is mandatory for farmers who take loans.

He was here today to hold a feedback meeting about the implementation of the scheme with district officials of the department. He asked them to educate farmers about the scheme.

“A major section of the farming community is unaware of the motive behind the scheme. That is why they are objecting to its implementation. The scheme will benefit all farmers, but it is mandatory for those who take agricultural loans. The other farmers should also adopt the scheme to minimise losses,” Singh said.

He further said it was the duty of the department, insurance companies and bankers to make farmers aware of the benefits of the scheme.

“The coverage area of the insurance scheme has been increased and scientific tools will be used to assess the loss. Farmers will get compensation within a short span of time,” Singh said, adding farmers had to pay only 2 per cent of the total premium, while the rest will be paid by the government.

Farmers’ leader Dharamveer Dhindsa objected to making the scheme mandatory. “The decision of making the scheme mandatory is wrong. Instead of making farmers aware, they are being threatened by bankers that the premium will be automatically deducted from their accounts. This is unacceptable.”

“The government must implement a scheme after consulting all stakeholders,” he added.