Odisha waiting for central share to settle crop insurance claims

BHUBANESWAR: Even as the State Government has released its share of about Rs 760 crore towards
crop insurance claims of the farmers for 2015 kharif season, the Centre is yet to provide the matching share.

Farmers who had sustained crop loss due to drought during last year kharif are still waiting for their claims to be settled by the National Agricultural Insurance Company.

The state government submitted its crop loss report to the Ministry of Agriculture on September 3 for approval and release of central share of the insurance claims of the farmers.

Even after one and half months the state government is clueless about  the delay in sanction of funds.

"We apprehend that the Centre is not fully convinced about the crop loss claims by the state government as the foodgrains production of the state during last kharif season is no less than the previous year," sources in the cooperation department said.

Official sources said that the state government is contemplating to  disburse its share of the claims to put pressure on the Centre for release of the matching share without further delay.

Wide variance in crop yield data provided by Agriculture and Revenue Departments for assessment of crop loss had put the State Government in a fix. The designated agriculture insurance companies
refused to accept the crop loss date.

The opposition Congress and the BJP raked up issue in the monsoon session of the Assembly where Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout had promised to disburse the insurance claims within two weeks.

Admitting the delay in payment of insurance to the affected farmers to contradictory crop cutting reports, Rout said the state is waiting for the matching share from the Centre.

Earlier, both the Congress and the BJP members had strongly criticised the state government for not giving insurance amount to farmers, "forcing" them to commit suicide.

This government has betrayed farmers so far as assured irrigation and free supply of power are concerned. Now the farmers are victims to the Chief Minister's greed for more Krishi Karman Awards,
commented Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra.

State waiting for central share to settle crop insurance claims Even as the State Government has released its share of about Rs 760 crore towards crop insurance claims of the farmers for 2015 kharif season, the Centre is yet to provide the matching share.

Farmers who had sustained crop loss due to drought during last year kharif are still waiting for their claims to be settled by the National Agricultural Insurance Company.

The state government submitted its crop loss report to the Ministry of Agriculture on September 3 for approval and release of central share of the insurance claims of the farmers.

Even after one and half months the state government is clueless about  the delay in sanction of funds.

"We apprehend that the Centre is not fully convinced about the crop loss claims by the state government as the foodgrains production of the state during last kharif season is no less than the previous year," sources in the cooperation department said.

Official sources said that the state government is contemplating to  disburse its share of the claims to put pressure on the Centre for release of the matching share without further delay.

Wide variance in crop yield data provided by Agriculture and Revenue Departments for assessment of crop loss had put the State Government in a fix. The designated agriculture insurance companies
refused to accept the crop loss date.

The opposition Congress and the BJP raked up issue in the monsoon session of the Assembly where Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout had promised to disburse the insurance claims within two weeks.

Admitting the delay in payment of insurance to the affected farmers to contradictory crop cutting reports, Rout said the state is waiting for the matching share from the Centre.

Earlier, both the Congress and the BJP members had strongly criticised the state government for not giving insurance amount to farmers, "forcing" them to commit suicide.

This government has betrayed farmers so far as assured irrigation and free supply of power are concerned. Now the farmers are victims to the Chief Minister's greed for more Krishi Karman Awards,
commented Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra.

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