Gajapati Zilla Krushak Sangha president Surjya Narayan Patnaik, farmer leaders Kuna Sahu, Adala Ram Dash, Krushna Chandra Panigrahi, Rajendra Jena, Niranjan Samal and many others alleged that the farmers of Gajapati district have not been paid insurance money in the last 20 years.
In last 20 years, the farmers have experienced multiple crops losses due to natural disaster and every time, they have been demanding the Government to pay compensation money under the Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) but to no avail, they said.
The Government is receiving the premium amount from these farmers through the insurance companies. last year Cholamandalam MS General Insurance was appointed by the Government to collect the premium amount, while this year the Oriental Insurance Company appointed by the Government collected the premium. More than 12,000 farmers have deposited the premium amount to the company, they revealed.
Due to pest attacked last year, crop over more than 15,000 hectares was damaged in the district. On May 11, thousands of farmers protested before the district Collector, demanding compensation for the crop loss and the district Collector had assured to pay the compensation before the end of August. But so far, there is no sign that the farmers are going to be paid their compensation money, they charged.
“Once again we are requesting the district Collector to provide the compensation money for the crop loss before end of August as per his previous assurance; else we will be forced to protest before the Collectorate,” they warned.