Don’t get misled by Oppn leaders, says Dhankar

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh/Jhajjar, July 26

Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar has urged farmers and tenant farmers of Haryana not to be misled by Opposition leaders about the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and get their crops insured by July 31.

In a statement issued here today, the minister said the Fasal Bima Yojana and Pashudhan Bima Yojana were the main aspects of the PMFBY.

“I had educated farmers about the schemes during my ‘padyatra’. Farmer’s welfare is government’s priority. The PMFBY will safeguard their rights,” Dhankar said.

There are, however, voices of discontent. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) had taken out a padyatra in Jhajjar yesterday in protest against the scheme.

Ratan Singh Mann, state BKU president, had said: “The scheme had nothing for farmers. It will only benefit insurance companies, as no formula has been chalked out to assess crop loss due to natural calamity. Several other loopholes have been left unaddressed in the scheme.”

Hitting back at the BKU without naming it, Dhankar said farmers should get their crops insured at all cost as the compensation would be awarded by insurance companies instead of any union in case their crops get damaged due to natural calamities.

“It is beyond understanding that why the scheme is being opposed merely for the sake of politics. If any union or political party wants to give any suggestion regarding the scheme, it is most welcome. Politics should not be played in the name of farmers’ interest,” said the minister.

After the formation of BJP government in the state, he said, it was decided compensation up to Rs 12,000 per acre would be given for the damage to crops and, in any case, the amount would not be less than Rs 500. “In case of natural disaster, the government felt compensation of Rs 12,000 was not enough. So, the PMFBY was introduced. Under the scheme, an insurance company will pay compensation up to Rs 25,000 per acre to farmers,” Dhankar added.