SATISH HANDA

Nearly 7600 farmers in Haryana state allege cheated by the agents of banks and insurance companies amount worth Rs 15 crore towards non depositing amount of premium towards crop insurance under ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Yozna’ sceme launched by the government deposited in about 100 bank branches. The farmers find themselves cheated when approached insurance companies for compensation toward damage to their crops and were refused reimbursement of insurance claim towards crop loss incurred by them since amount of insurance premium was not deposited and refused to entertain them in the absence of premium amount,. According to duped farmers they had submitted the insurance documents along with amount of premium to the insurance agents. In most of the cases, either names and addresses of farmers were found wrong or the insurance agents had not deposited amount of insurance premium in the bank or insurance company.

The farmers refused compensation amount towards crop insurance by the company raised hue and cry and took up matter with the state government administration, which referred complaints to government in the centre. However, J.P. Dalal State Agriculture Minister assured farmers compensation towards their crop losses suffered by them and a meeting was held between officers of the banks, insurance companies and agriculture department on August 14, 2020 to discuss and sort out cheatings to the farmers. According to information, three insurance companies were fined amount worth Rs 34.92 including Rs 14.04 crore,  Rs 11.09 and Rs 9.79 crorer each respectively allegedly cheating farmers by their agents. Investigation also revealed that many farmers were able to get compensation towards loss to their crops whose amounts of insurance premium were deposited in the banks..