Gram Sabhas to inform farmers about crop insurance scheme

Gram Sabhas across the country have been asked to inform farmers about the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) at the beginning of the Rabi Season on Monday.

According to Ministry of Agriculture, the Gram Sabhas will also inform the farmers on how they can insure their crops under the Scheme. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare has requested the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the State Governments to include this as an agenda in the upcoming Gram Sabhas, especially for the one scheduled on October 2, in connection with Gandhi Jayanti. This is as part of the awareness initiatives taken up at various levels by the government and insurance companies to create awareness about the scheme and mobilise farmers to insure their crops.

This is also the first season for PMFBY with its revised operational guidelines in place. The governemnt expects the companies to reduce premium rates, especially as the general cut-off date for enrolment has been advanced by 15 days for both seasons. As per the revised operational guidelines, the farmers get 72 hours to intimate individual claims against the existing 48 hours. This can be done through any of the channels provided under the Scheme and directly on the portal of PMFBY, the ministry said.

It added that in case of grievance, the farmers can access dedicated grievance redressal authorities. Revised operational guidelines provide for appointment of District Level Grievance Redressal Officer and creation of State and District Grievance Redressal Cells for fast redressal of grievances.

Non-loanee farmers can approach designated Common Service Centres, banks and insurance agents for insuring their crops or directly enrol on the portal. Those farmers who avail short term crop loans from formal financial institutions at concessional rates of interest are automatically covered under the Scheme, the ministry said in a press release.