Karnal: 5,000 farmers await insurance claims of losses in 2018

KARNAL: More than 5,000 farmers, who suffered crop loss during the 2018 kharif (summer sown) season, are yet to receive compensation in Karnal district under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). One -and -a -half years on, farmers have been running from pillar to post to get their insurance claims. Due to clerical mistakes by their banks, the insurance company has rejected the claims of around 4,395 farmers. The banks stated that the company would pay the money of crop losses to farmers, as the premium was deducted by it. On other hand, the company said mistakes were committed by banks, so they were at fault and should also pay for that. The delay in the settlement of claims is leading to resentment among farmers, who are demanding that the state and Union governments take action against defaulters.According to data, 15,474 farmers had approached the agriculture department for claims after facing losses due to excessive rainfall.Applications of 3,474 farmers had been rejected, as they had filed for claims after 48 hours of the loss. The remaining 12,000 applicants were found to be genuine. Of them, around 5,000 farmers have been waiting for their compensation since 2018, out of which 4,395 farmers were those whose details on the PMFBY portal were not entered correctly by their banks.The insurance company collected Rs1,513.7 lakh in premium in 2018 kharif season. Karnal deputy director of agriculture Aditya Dabas admitted that around 5,000 farmers' crop insurance claims were yet to be settled. "Recently, Haryana additional chief secretary TVSN Prasad issued a letter to the finance department of the Union government, chief executive officer of PMFBY, and director -cum -chairman of state -level bankers committee to ensure compensation," he said. "I will get it checked and resolved," said Karnal DC Nishant Kumar Yadav.