Hundreds of farmers in Bhatli block of the district have been deprived of crop insurance allegedly due to the indifferent attitude of the Andhra Bank authorities.
Sources said many farmers of the block suffered crop loss in 2017. However, at least 289 farmers of Chadeigaon under Bhatli block are yet to receive insurance compensation under the Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) due to the apathy of the concerned bank manager. The matter came to the fore after the distressed farmers brought the matter to the notice of the district Collector, following which an investigation has begun. “The DRCS and lead bank manager were directed to carry out an investigation after receiving the complaint. A letter has been written to the concerned bank and they have been asked to sanction the claims so that the beneficiaries do not suffer due to the negligence of the bank,” informed Bargarh Collector Indramani Tripathy.