BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has asked the district central cooperative banks (DCCBs) and commercial banks to credit the crop insurance claims of farmers to their savings bank account within two weeks.
Altogether 11.61 lakh farmers across the State will get insurance claims to the tune of Rs 1,776 crore which has been credited to DCCBs and commercial banks concerned.
Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi reviewed the progress of disbursement with district collectors through video conferencing on Friday. An anount of Rs 880 crore has been credited to account of the farmers till yesterday.
The Chief Secretary clarified that since the agricultural loan term is up to the month of March, no bank should adjust the insurance money against the loan of current year. The total insurance claims of
non-defaulter loanee farmers should be disbursed 100 percent.
However, the crop insurance money of those loanee farmers who have defaulted in clearing their past loans will be adjusted. He asked the banks to ensure 100 percent disbursement within the next 15 days.
Agriculture and Cooperation Secretary Manoj Ahuja appraised that this insurance claim is being given against kharif crop loss of 2015 and around 11.61 lakh farmers would get the benefit.
The Chief Secretary directed the district collectors to keep close watch and ensure 100 percent disbursement of the compensation money to account of the farmers. The collectors to review the situation
on daily basis with commercial and cooperative banks and updated the Cooperation Secretary through WhatsAap messages.
Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan advised the banks to open savings accounts of the loanee farmers wherever necessary within 2 to 3 days and credit the insurance money to their savings account.
The Collectors were also asked to ensure disbursement of draught assistance announced by the state government for 2015 Kharif paddy. Around Rs 83 crore will be distributed to draught affected farmers in
24 districts at the rate of Rs 100 per quintal of paddy.
Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Mohapatra present in the video conference appraised that the entire money has been placed with the Secretary, Central Cooperative Bank.
The state government has received reports that some farmers of a Western Odisha district have paid premium for the same land they have raised paddy crops in different banks.
Banks have been asked to disburse their insurance claims first and take suitable action against such farmers thereafter.
The delay in disbursement of insurance claims was due to discrepancies in the crop cutting reports by the Agriculture and Revenue departments.