The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the government policy on the fate of insurance schemes provided to farmers, asking whether the entire claim money would be forfeited, with the farmers getting nothing, in case he is unable to pay an instalment.
“If the insurance claim is not paid, does the money get forfeited? Does it lapse? Who gets it? Does it go back to the farmer? What happens? We want to know,” a Bench led by Chief Justice J.S. Khehar asked the Centre.
The query came after Additional Solicitor General P.S. Narasimha submitted that the insurance provided to farmers has seen a “sea change” at the ground level.
The court was looking into farmers' suicides, the various reasons behind the tragedy, including bad debts and vagaries of nature.
Mr. Narasimha said the budgetary allocation devoted to protect the farmer is like “never before”.
