Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday announced in the State Assembly that all complaints relating to the weather-based crop insurance scheme would be resolved and attempts made to benefit the deserving farmers.
Intervening during Agriculture Minister Harjiram Burdak’s reply to a question during the Question Hour, Mr. Gehlot said the scheme, launched in 10 districts in 2003, would be extended to the entire State this year. Its rules have been framed at the district level in accordance with different weathers during the year.
Mr. Gehlot said the State Government would take prompt action to settle the grievances relating to non-payment of dues on time and extend the scheme’s benefit to all deserving farmers.
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Agriculture Minister Mr. Burdak, replying to a written question by BJP MLAs Digambar Singh and Rajendra Rathore, said the information about weather was collected through gadgets installed at tehsil headquarters, while there were arrangements in place for State-level monitoring of rains.
“The criterion for each district has been fixed on the basis of average temperature recorded during the last 30 years,” said Mr. Burdak. Compensation for the loss of rabi crops during 2008-09 and kharif crops during 2009 has been paid under the scheme.
The Minister pointed out that compensation was paid to farmers for the destruction of 50 to 75 per cent of their crops, while both the Union and the State Governments pay a share in the premium to the agricultural insurance company, which in turn calculates the amount of damages to be released to farmers.
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