CM calls for debate to make crop insurance scheme pro-farmers

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today advocated holding a national level debate on making crop insurance scheme farmer-friendly and practical.
"The crop insurance scheme should be made practical and farmer-friendly to help those who suffer crop damage due natural catastrophes," Chouhan, told PTI here.
The Chief Minister said he will request the Centre to relax its rules of awarding compensation to natural calamity- hit farmers on the lines as it has been done by the state government in order to render relief to maximum number of farmers.
"The current rules of Government of India for awarding compensation to natural calamity-hit farmers restrict the scope of relief to a large number of farmers. In Madhya Pradesh, we have changed that by bringing amendments in the Revenue Book rules 6-4. Thus, we are able to cover almost all categories of damages," he said.

Chouhan also informed that he has apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue, who in turn has assured to look into the matter.
He said crops under more than four lakh hectare have been damaged in the recent untimely rainfall and hailstorm, and affected over 4 lakh farmers in the state.
The crop damage survey this year is being done in a more transparent manner by officials of three departments, Revenue, Panchayat and Rural Development, Chouhan said.
The (survey) list will be displayed at the Panchayat office and if any discrepancy is found or reported by anyone, survey would be carried out again in that particular case, he added.