Shettar asks govt to disclose report on PMFBY arrears

Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar charged that the State Government is not disclosing Vasanthkumar Committee report on nonpayment of compensation to many chilli and cotton growers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for 2016 kharif season, to hide its own mistake in agreeing for multi-picking crop cutting procedures to settle the claims.

He told media persons here on Tuesday that he would write letters to chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda to take steps to ensure the payment of amount already sanctioned under the PMFBY, and to cancel multi-picking crop cutting procedure.

In Dharwad district, Rs 172.60 crore was sanctioned under PMFBY for 2016 kharif season. Only Rs 88.92 crore has been disbursed to 36,285 farmers, while Rs 83.69 crore to be given to 53,698 farmers is still pending. Farmers in other districts are also facing the same problem, he said.

As per the information I have, Vasanthkumar Committee appointed to look into the matter has shown the errors of the State Government itself. It must have recommended alternative method for multi-picking crop cutting procedure also. The State Government should not have agreed for this procedure, while signing the MoU with insurance companies. Instead of following delay tactics and shifting the responsibility to Union Government, the State Government should disclose that report and should take suitable measures for the benefit of farmers, Mr Shettar added.