UP govt okays new scheme to replace 'Krishak Bima Yojna'

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet today gave its nod for replacing the state government's ambitious 'Krishak Bima Yojna' with 'CM Kisan Avam Sarvhit Bima Yojna', which will cover landless farmers as well.
Presided by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, the Cabinet here decided to end Krishak Bima Yojna and replace it with 'CM Kisan Avam Sarvhit Bima Yojna' under which, besides those covered under the earlier scheme, all landless farmers and other such families having an annual income of below Rs 75,000 will also be covered, an official spokesman here said.
The earlier scheme under the revenue department covered land-holding farmers who have their names in revenue records, he said, adding that, in the event of death, they got up to Rs 5 lakh for which the state government used to pay the premium.

In 2014-15, a provision was made for Rs 855 crore and payments were extended to 16,254 beneficiaries, he said.
The new scheme will cover some three crore people, including those that were covered under the earlier scheme.
In the event of death or permanent disability, the beneficiary will get up to Rs 5 lakh and up to Rs 2.50 lakh for medical treatment after an accident and Rs 1 lakh for going for an artificial limb, he said.
An expenditure of Rs 897 crore is expected on this scheme, he added.
Among other decisions, the Cabinet agreed to hike the pension for World War II veterans and their widows from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000, the spokesman added.