 "Govt okays changes to crop insurance scheme, makes it optional for farmers")
The government on Wednesday approved major changes in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) making it optional for farmers with a view to plug loopholes in the farm insurance scheme.
Under the PMFBY, which was launched in February 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is mandatory for loanee farmers to take insurance cover under this scheme.
Currently, 58 per cent of the total farmers are loanee.
The Union Cabinet has approved many changes in the PMFBY programme as farmers' body and states were raising some concerns, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters here.
The minister said the PMFBY scheme has been made optional.
Highlighting the achievements of this scheme, Tomar said the insurance programme has covered 30 per cent of cultivable area.
The minister said insurance claims worth Rs 60,000 crore have been cleared, while Rs 13,000 crore premiums have been collected.
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