<p class="title rtejustify">The state government on Friday agreed to enquire into complaints on crop insurance companies duping farmers, following a suggestion by Legislative Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Arasikere MLA K M Shivalinge Gowda (JD-S) who raised the issue in the Assembly claimed that a large number of farmers who had deposited their hard-earned money as a premium to insure their crops under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana had been cheated. </p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Insurance companies which took the premium did not pay compensation for crop losses suffered by farmers. He claimed the insurance companies were hand-in-glove with panchayat development officials and rejected applications by farmers for compensation, saying they were not eligible for the claims.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Gowda gave some instances from his home district of Hassan. The Arasikere MLA was supported by members cutting across party lines. M Chandrappa (BJP) said farmers in Chitradurga district had deposited a total premium of Rs 121 crore in 2017-18 but were paid compensation of only Rs 21 crore, despite suffering huge crop losses.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Leader of the Opposition B S Yeddyurappa said Karnataka was facing one of the worst droughts in history and all efforts should be made to protect the interest of farmers. Agriculture Minister N H Shivashankar Reddy said his department will look into the complaints</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">“Crop insurance firms are run like business houses. Take your officials into confidence. Let there be an enquiry and a report within one month,” he said. Reddy agreed and said the enquiry will be ordered soon.</p>
<p class="title rtejustify">The state government on Friday agreed to enquire into complaints on crop insurance companies duping farmers, following a suggestion by Legislative Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Arasikere MLA K M Shivalinge Gowda (JD-S) who raised the issue in the Assembly claimed that a large number of farmers who had deposited their hard-earned money as a premium to insure their crops under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana had been cheated. </p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Insurance companies which took the premium did not pay compensation for crop losses suffered by farmers. He claimed the insurance companies were hand-in-glove with panchayat development officials and rejected applications by farmers for compensation, saying they were not eligible for the claims.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Gowda gave some instances from his home district of Hassan. The Arasikere MLA was supported by members cutting across party lines. M Chandrappa (BJP) said farmers in Chitradurga district had deposited a total premium of Rs 121 crore in 2017-18 but were paid compensation of only Rs 21 crore, despite suffering huge crop losses.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Leader of the Opposition B S Yeddyurappa said Karnataka was facing one of the worst droughts in history and all efforts should be made to protect the interest of farmers. Agriculture Minister N H Shivashankar Reddy said his department will look into the complaints</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">“Crop insurance firms are run like business houses. Take your officials into confidence. Let there be an enquiry and a report within one month,” he said. Reddy agreed and said the enquiry will be ordered soon.</p>
