Under Modi's crop insurance scheme, farmers owed a whopping Rs 28 billion

PMFBY guidelines require that the claims be settled within two months of harvest

In January 2016, when the Narendra Modi led government announced the new crop insurance scheme – Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) – it had said that one of the key improvements over previous schemes would be that claims would be settled on time.

However, RTI data received and reviewed by The Wire has revealed that farmers’ claims worth Rs 2,829 crore remain unpaid for the two seasons that the PMFBY has been implemented.

The RTI response of the ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare is dated October 10.

“A majority of claims for rabi 2017-18 are yet to be