Farmers expressed dismay over crop insurance settlement by the agriculture department through insurance companies at the monthly grievance meeting organised at Vellore .
R. Subash, a farmer, said that the insurance settlement payment was arbitrarily calculated and did not cover even 20% of the losses.
He pointed out that there are four classifications in the calculation of crop losses, which were all ignored by the agriculture department in assessing damages.
The PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKSN) payments too had several problems, he charged. While farmers who registered in February this year were not even paid the first instalment of ₹2000 for this financial year, farmers from other regions were paid, he said.
There is no clarity on this scheme among officials. They do not explain the reasons behind the delay or rejection of their applications, he said. “If documents or evidences are to be submitted, it should be properly conveyed to the farmers,” he said.
Another farmer from Pernambut said that those whose lands were acquired for the erection of high-tension power transmission towers, were yet to get their compensation. While the government showed urgency in taking their lands, it was so lethargic in their action after the acquisition, he said.
When a farmer from Ponnai sought construction of a dam across a river, Collector A. Shanmuga Sundaram assured him that a field survey to assess the requirement would be conducted soon.
In his reply, the Collector asked the officials to solve the issues on a case by case basis and to settle all dues.
District Revenue Officer, J. Partheeban explained the PMKSN scheme in detai.
Mr. Sundaram distributed loans to the tune of ₹2.40 lakh to women self help group members for procuring cattle.
