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Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, February 19
The crop insurance scheme of the government is proving to be a profitable venture for insurance companies in Himachal Pradesh.
As per the information collected under the RTI, insurance companies collected a premium of Rs 78.12 crores in Himachal Pradesh for the year 2017-18. Out of this amount, 2 per cent was paid by the farmers and the rest contributed by the union and state governments. For commercial crops the farmers have to pay 5 per cent of the premium. However, in the current financial year, the insurance companies have settled claims of farmers for paltry Rs 3.12 crores till date.
The information under the RTI has revealed that it was estimated that the farmers claims worked out to be Rs 36.31 crores. Out of this, the claims of Rs 28.31 crores were approved by various authorities. However, the companies have settled claims of just 3.12 crores so far. With the financial year closing in March next month it seems that the private insurance companies are likely to make windfall profit from the small state like Himachal.
Information gathered under the RTI has also revealed that in the year 2016-17 private insurance companies had made handsome profits out of the crop insurance scheme in the state. The insurance companies collected a premium of Rs 71.51 crores during the period but paid claims of Rs 44.66 crores to the farmers.
Information under the RTI has also revealed that in the year 3,82,470 farmers were covered under the insurance scheme. Out of these the claims were paid to just 23,573 farmers.
In the financial year 2016-17 as many as 3,79, 925 farmers were covered under the scheme out of which 1,12,601 were given claims.
Dinesh Chada, an RTI activist who has gathered the information, while talking to The Tribune, said that it was clear from the data that the private companies were making huge profits at the cost of farmers.
Minister for Agriculture Ram Lal Markanda, when contacted, said that he would look into the matter. If any claims of the farmers are pending the government would ensure that these are disbursed.
The farmers of Himachal have been suffering due to climate change. Due to inclement weather agriculture experts have advised the farmers to change cropping patterns. In such a scenario where companies are not paying insurance claims of farmers the issue is likely to gain prominence in the forthcoming parliamentary polls.
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