Under increasing criticism from the opposition political parties for neglecting the farmers, the State Government on Friday announced to launch the Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana (BKKY) on November 12.
The scheme, to be launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Pallahara in Angul district, will provide insurance cover to 60 lakh farmers. It will be implemented in two phases in 30 districts, Agriculture Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said after a high-level meeting presided by the Chief Minister in the Secretariat here on Friday.
Mishra said five insurance companies have been shortlisted to undertake the scheme. The NIC has been given charge of developing the software for it, he said.
The Minister said the programme will be operationalised dividing the State into three zones - South, Central and North.
While each farmer family will have to pay premium of `30 per annum, the insurance cover will be for `30,000.
The benefit will be available for members of the farmer’s family, including the head of the household, his spouse and three dependents.
The State Government has provided ` 100 crore for the implementation of the health insurance scheme for farmers under the BKKY.