Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday launched a nationwide campaign aimed at motivating farmers to insure crops. He said that the system of payment by the government to the farmers in different items has been made simpler and is free from the clutches of touts and middlemen.
Tomar started the "Meri Policy, Mere Haath" campaign in the presence of a large number of farmers in Budhi Barlai village, about 35 km from Indore. After this, he told media, “Through this campaign, we will deliver the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (Policy Document) to the doorstep of those farmers across the country who have taken this insurance. We want that the farmers who are not insuring crop insurance should also become aware and motivated to do so”.
Agriculture provides livelihood to nearly 60% of our population. However, risks of natural calamities, large rain-fed areas, pests, and disease make agriculture a highly volatile sector.
Thus, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana was introduced to provide financial protection to the farmers against any such unforeseen events. 'Meri Policy Mere Hath' initiative takes the Govt.’s effort one step ahead by empowering farmers through crop insurance awareness and by bringing insurance policy to the farmers' doorsteps. It will also help increase direct communication between the farmers and insurance companies and increase their trust in insurance companies and PMFBY."
Over 36 Crores People are Associated with this Scheme
Tomar said that in the last six years, a total of 36 crore farmers are associated with the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and in lieu of damage to crops due to natural calamities, compensation of more than one lakh crore rupees has been provided to the concerned farmers.
When asked about the possible impact of the issue of agricultural laws on the forthcoming outcome of the Punjab Assembly elections, he said in a short response, "There will be no negative or positive effect of agricultural laws (on the election results)."
