Madhya Pradesh: Farmer gets Rs 4 as crop insurance

Bhopal: A farmer in a Madhya Pradesh village received the shock of his life when he got a cheque of Rs 4.7 as insurance money for his soybean crop loss.

Badami Lal, a resident of Rehti tehsil in Sehore district, received the pittance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (Prime Minister’s Crop Insurance scheme) as compensation for his soybean crop loss due to a hailstorm recently.

“We were shocked to see the amount in the cheque. We had suffered extensive damages to our crop. We failed to comprehend on what basis the insurance amount was calculated,” his family told reporters on Tuesday.

This may not be an isolated incident as Uttam Singh, a farmer hailing from Tilaria village in the district, has received Rs 17 as insurance for his soybean crop loss. He had paid a premium of '1,342 in the insurance scheme. 

Another farmer in the village also received a jolt when her insurance cheque showed her an amount of Rs 194 as compensation for her crop loss. She had paid a premium of Rs 5,220.

Under the scheme, the premium amounts have been shared by the farmers, the state government and the Centre.

“The insurance amount is calculated by the size of land under cultivation, crops cultivated and extent of crop loss. So, we should not take into account the amount paid under the scheme,” the state cooperation minister said.