The Madras High Court today directed Tamil Nadu government to examine whether it could introduce individual agricultural insurance scheme for farmers and inform its decision within two months.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, while disposing of a PIL by M Appavu, a former MLA, said "we are of the view that the suggestion be examined and a decision taken on it be informed to the court within two months from today and it should be communicated to the petitioner within a week thereafter."
Appavu submitted that due to the loss and damages caused to farmers they were not able to repay agricultural loans and a survey showed that since 1995 to 2010 a total of 2,56,913 farmers have committed suicide in the country due to loss in cultivation.
The survey and research reports clearly showed that the suicides are due to the increase in fertilizer price, hike in wages, the petitioner submitted.
Mere waiving of agricultural loans alone will not be a permanent solution, he contended, stating the present National Agricultural Insurance Scheme is a "disappointing one" as there is no real benefit to farmers under the scheme.
An individual crop insurance scheme can be implemented to all agriculturalists covering all crops, the petitioner maintained, adding he had already made a detailed representation in this regard to the state government.
He said he was moving the court as there was no response from the government for his representation.
