Bengal govt offers crop insurance money to farmers affected by inadequate rainfall

The West Bengal government has started disbursing money among the state’s farmers who got affected due to scarce rainfall and couldn’t sow paddy. The move comes as a relief for the thousands of farmers in the regions that faced the brunt, and at a time when the state is in a tussle with the Centre over withholding of dues for beneficiaries of public welfare schemes, especially the 100-day rural job scheme.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Tuesday, in a statement on X, mentioned that an amount of Rs 197 crore is being released to 2.46 lakh affected farmers, who couldn’t sow paddy due to “deficit rainfall”.

“The claims have been finalised under Bangla Shasya Bima (BSB), which is a fully state government funded crop insurance scheme and we pay the entire premium amount. Farmers are not required to pay anything,” Banerjee stated, adding that an amount exceeding Rs 2,400 crore has so far been offered to 85 lakh farmers, since the inception of the scheme in 2019.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress, in a post, laid emphasis on the state’s dues being withheld by the Centre, and issued a reminder that the money was due by this month's end. “With the people of Bengal, every step of the way! Unlike the BJP zamindars who believe in looting the poor and filling their coffers, we are wholeheartedly committed to serving the people and ensuring their welfare,” the Trinamool stated on X.

The Trinamool added, “Our fight for Bengal’s rightful dues under MGNREGA and Awas Yojana is still on. BJP zamindars, remember the deadline for positive resolution: 31 October!”

The post also shared a visual, with text attributed to party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee: “It is the solemn duty and responsibility of our Maa, Mati, Manush government to tirelessly work for the welfare of our people.”

While addressing a gathering in Diamond Harbour on Monday, Banerjee had told people that the “way people had descended on the streets to fight for their rights (demand release of their dues) was a mere trailer”, and the “full movie” will be shown after October 31 beginning November 1.

Banerjee asked people for six months’ time, promising that dues will be taken from the Centre, and if it doesn’t happen, the state government can arrange for the pending wages. “We don’t have to depend on anyone. Trinamool will arrange for rightful dues before June 30 next year,” a party release quoted him as saying.