Fearing credit to PM, Mann kept Punjab farmers out of crop insurance, chose PR: Jakhar
Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Monday criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for keeping Punjab farmers out of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), accusing the state government of prioritising public relations over meaningful policy action.
Speaking on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to flood-hit Punjab, Jakhar said that had the Mann government implemented the PM crop insurance scheme by contributing its share of the premium—instead of spending state funds on publicity and self-promotion—flood-affected farmers could have easily received compensation for their losses.
He said that this scheme covering losses due to natural calamities, pests, or diseases was launched in 2016.
“Later, the Union Government had made necessary changes to the scheme by accepting suggestions from the state governments, and after that, almost all states adopted it, but Punjab has not implemented it yet. Perhaps fearing that the credit might go to the BJP-led Central Government, as a result of which thousands of Punjab’s farmers are deprived of its benefits today,” he said.
The Punjab BJP chief noted that in November 2022, the state government had even announced to implement the scheme, but due to its narrow political interests, in March 2023, the government again backed out from implementing it in Punjab, because instead of paying the premium, greater priority was given to publicity.
Jakhar explained that under this scheme, farmer paid only 2 per cent of the sum insured, while the rest of the premium was shared equally by the state and the Union Government.
He said that more than four crore farmers across the country are benefiting from this scheme nationally and in neighbouring Haryana, a farmer pays about Rs 850 as his share of premium per acre for paddy crop and would get insurance coverage of up to approximately Rs 42,000 per acre.
“Around Rs 500 has been paid out as claims under PMFBY for every Rs 100 of premium paid by the insured farmers. Till date over 22 crore farmers have received over Rs 1,80,000 crores under this scheme,” he added.
Jakhar said the AAP government had earlier claimed it would introduce a crop insurance policy under the state’s new agriculture policy, however, it has failed to do so.
He added that while people expected the state government to act in the public interest, it appears CM Bhagwant Mann has compromised Punjab’s welfare to appease his party leadership in Delhi.
Punjab