New Delhi:As PM Fasal Bima Yojana completed five years today since its launch in 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated beneficiaries of the scheme and said that it has increased coverage, mitigated risk, and benefitted crores of farmers.
29 crore farmers have so far insured their crops under the government''s Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and urged other growers -- who have not yet got one -- to enroll soon.
On the occasion of five years of implementation of PMFBY, the minister said crop insurance is the only "suraksha kavach (security shield)" for farmers from any crop losses arising due to natural disasters.
So far, 29 crore farmers have insured their crops under the scheme and about 5.5 crores new farmers are getting registered every year. The government has disbursed claims worth Rs 90,000 crore in the last five years, he added.
PMFBY was launched on January 13, 2016 with an aim to provide a comprehensive risk solution at the lowest uniform premium across the country for farmers.
"On this occasion, I want to again congratulate farmers and urge them to tell fellow farmers and relatives to take advantage of the crop insurance," Tomar said in a video message.
Govt discuss benefits as PMFBY completes 5 year He also urged those "farmers, who have not yet got their crop insured, to get one today itself and secure crops from natural disasters."
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The minister informed that PMFBY has been made voluntary and the scheme is linked with technology. Moreover, efforts have been made to ensure transparency.
For speedy disbursal of claims and crop assessment, the centre is using satellite and is working closely with the state governments.
A crop insurance mobile app, where farmers can get all information related to the scheme, is also made available, he added.
Tomar said, "Fasal Bima Yojna has benefitted crores of farmers worth Rs 90,000 crore. With the help of the scheme farmers have progressed and have adopted modern technology methods and it also helped the farmers to overcome their losses."
"An important initiative to secure hardworking farmers from the vagaries of nature, PM Fasal Bima Yojana completes 5 years today. The Yojana has increased coverage, mitigated risk and benefitted crores of farmers. I congratulate all beneficiaries of the scheme. #FasalBima4SafalKisan," PM Modi tweeted.
"How has PM Fasal Bima Yojana ensured greater benefit to farmers? How has transparency been furthered in settlement of claims? These, and other aspects relating to PM-FBY have been answered through innovative content on the NaMo App's Your Voice Section. #FasalBima4SafalKisan," he said in another tweet.
PMFBY, a comprehensive coverage, protecting farmers from sowing to post-harvest by combining extensive uses of technology to assess crop losses was launched from Kharif season in 2016.
The PMFBY has been restructured with states given the option to determine the scale of finance at the district level as per average yield. The central subsidy will be 30 percent for unirrigated crops and 25 per cent for irrigated areas.
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With agency inputs
