Farmers move HC for money under Fasal Bima Yojana

The Karnataka High Court has issued notices Central and state government while hearing a petition seeking directions to the authorities to disburse crop loss insurance amount to farmers of Shahapur taluk in Yadgir district, under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

The court was hearing a PIL filed by Akhanda Karnataka Raitha Sangha questioning the non-payment of crop insurance to farmers who suffered crop losses in 2016 monsoon.

The petitioner has contended that despite democratic protests, indefinite satyagraha and their multiple talks with officials concerned, the authorities did not take any action. Furthermore, the number of farmer suicides in the Shahpur taluk in Yadgir district and the authorities concerned had failed to take any steps to arrest suicides.

The petitioner further contended that PMFBY was a Central government scheme to provide insurance coverage and financial support to farmers in the event of crop failure. It is implemented through a multi-agency framework by selected insurance companies under the overall guidance and control of the Centre and the respective state governments and other agencies.

The petitioner has also sought for directions to the respondents to take all steps to ensure the immediate disbursal of crop insurance loss compensation to all insured farmers in all taluks of Karnataka which have been declared "drought hit"by the state.