“AT LEAST 50 PERCENT OF THE FARMERS”

Prime Minister Narender Modi talked about Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme) in his first “Mann Ki Baat” of 2016. Under this scheme, he addressed that at least 50 per cent of the farmers of our country should join this scheme in the next two years.

PM said,” Crop insurance has been discussed for so many years. But not more than 20-25 per cent farmers have been able to connect with it and become its beneficiaries…Can we take a pledge that we connect at least 50 per cent of the farmers with this scheme in two years? I need your help in this. Because if a farmer joins the scheme, he will get huge help during a natural calamity”

He further said,” Attention has been paid that technology is used to fast-track the process so that there is no delay in getting the insurance claim”

Under this scheme of Pradhan Mantri, farmers will have to pay uniform premium of two percent for all Kharif crops and 1.5 percent to all Rabi crops. For other annual commercial and horticultural crops farmers will have to pay premium of five percent. And as according to previous scheme, the government will borne the remaining share of premium equally.

PM said, “In our country, a lot is said in the name of farmers. I don’t want to get involved in that debate. But farmers face a major crisis. During a natural calamity, their entire effort goes waste. His one year goes waste. To give him security, only one thing comes to mind and that is crop insurance. In 2016, the central government has given a big gift to the farmers — Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. This scheme has been brought not for the purpose that it should be praised or the PM should be hailed.”