Madras HC orders Centre to give finality to crop insurance scheme

The Madras High Court has directed the Centre to file an affidavit stating as to when the proposed new crop insurance scheme for farmers will be finalised.

A bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice TS Sivagnanam, directed Assistant Solicitor General Srinivasan to file an affidavit stating when the government expects the consultative process to be finalised, as it is going on for the last three years.

The bench was hearing a PIL that sought a direction to the authorities to make the crop insurance scheme available to all farmers in Tamil Nadu.

As per the existing scheme, farmers in notified areas alone, that too those who cultivate the notified crops, are eligible to become beneficiaries in case of loss.

Fifty per cent of insurance premium is paid by farmers, while the rest is given by the government.

In case of compensation for losses, it is shared equally by state and central governments.