Odisha urges Centre to release Rs 795.31 cr to pay farmers

Criticised for not being able to pay crop insurance benefits to farmers hit by the last year's drought, Odisha government today urged the Centre to release its share of Rs 795.31 crore to facilitate early payment.
"I would be grateful if you would accord your approval to the delayed submission of the crop yield data for Kharif-2015 season and provide the Government of India share of Rs 795.31 crore immediately, so that claims could be released to 11.61 lakh farmers who are eligible for receiving insurance claims, pertaining to Kharif-2015," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in a letter to Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh.

Noting that more than 21 lakh farmers were covered under the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) during Kharif-2015, Patnaik said the Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited (AIC) has approved claims of Rs 1,776.34 crore for Kharif, 2015 for Odisha on October 5, 2016.
The farmers in Odisha have made all out efforts and incurred expenses for agricultural activities during Rabi, 2015-16 and Kharif, 2016, facilitated by the state government, he said.
"In order to help the affected farmers to overcome the adverse effect of drought last year, it is essential that their insurance claims are settled at the earliest without further delay," the letter said.

The total claim approved by the AIC is Rs 1,776.34 crore, of which the state and Central share is Rs 795.31 crore each. The state has already sanctioned its share which will be disbursed to the farmers as soon as the Central share is received, Patnaik said.