BJD Holds Centre Responsible For Non-Payment of Crop Insurance To Odisha Farmers

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of farmers’ protest against non-payment of dues towards crop insurance in Odisha’s Bargarh, the BJD has held the Central government responsible for the delay.

In a series of tweets on Tuesday, BJD spokesperson and MP Sasmit Patra said the crop insurance is cleared by the Centre and insurance companies make the payment. The State does not have any role in this regard.

Patra posted his views on the social media in response to a tweet by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in this regard. Tomar said following the approval of the technical consultative committee the insurance companies and the states have been told to take steps for payment of crop insurance.

“It’s clear now from your (Tomar’s) tweet that the pending Fasal Bima of farmers of Bargarh and especially Padmapur were pending all this while with the Centre and now you are asking insurance companies to pay,” said Patra.

The BJD spokesperson further tweeted, “Would have been better if the Centre had taken this decision earlier. Thousands of farmers of Bargarh and Padmapur would not have had to suffer for so long.”

He also requested the Union Minister to clear all pending Fasal Bima (crop insurance) claims for all farmers of Odisha and not only Padmapur as they are also suffering for long.