EXPLAINER: How insurance claims caused 100-day farmers' stir in Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri

Farmers of several villages in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts have been running from pillar to post seeking release of insurance claims of their crops for 2023-24. The total claims are stated to be around Rs 385 crore — as estimated by the farmers. They have been holding two dharnas for the last 100 days and vowed to continue their struggle until the claims are released to the affected farmers.

Why are the farmers of several villages in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri district holding dharnas for the last 100 days?

Led by local units of the Samykta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the farmers have been staging two separate dharnas in their respective districts for the last 100 days. They have been demanding the release of insurance claim of Rs 385 crore to them for the crop damage of kharif and rabi season in 2023. They had got their kharif crops insured under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and sought the claim as per the crop cutting experiments (CCE) conducted by the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, which is a parametre for assessing the per acres produce and losses to the farmers. They have demanded action against the insurance company and officials who allegedly dismissed their rightful claims after the election code of conduct came into effect.

How has former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda intervened in the issue?

Former Chief Minister Hooda wrote a letter to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini seeking a high-level inquiry into the alleged insurance fraud, which was raised by the farmers of Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts. He highlighted that the claims should have been settled based on crop cutting experiments (CCEs), not satellite imagery, as per the Haryana Government’s order dated August 29, 2023. Hooda termed the issue a grave injustice to the poor farmers and urged the government to ensure immediate compensation without delay.

How much insurance claim have they been demanding for crop damage under the PMFBY?

Farmer leader Balbir Thakan explained that the claim of Rs 220 crore of the kharif crop damage was pending for Bhiwani district while another Rs 40 crore was pending for the farmers of Charkhi Dadri district. Besides, another Rs 85 crore for the rabi season was yet to be released by the insurance firm for both districts. He said while the matter related to the claim regarding kharif crop damage was pending at the level of the government, which needed to give direction to the insurance firm for releasing the claims after redressing the grievances of the farmers. The matter related to Rs 85 crore had already been settled by the Centre but the insurance firm was still to release the claims to the affected farmers.

What is the status of their demand as of now?

The farmers have submitted a memorandum to Bhiwani Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sahil Gupta to take necessary measures for immediate action and payment of pending claims. The DC assured them that the matter would be reviewed and presented before the State Grievances Redressal Committee. The farmers said their dharna and protests would continue until the release of their pending insurance claims.

Whom have they met so far to raise the demand?

The farmer delegations had met the former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rajya Sabha MP Kiran Chaudhry, former Agriculture Minister JP Dalal, and Deputy Commissioners Sahil Gupta (Bhiwani) and Manish Nagpal (Charkhi Dadri). The MPs from BJP Bhiwani Mahendergarh Dharambir Singh and Hisar’s Congress MP Jai Prakash besides Kiran Chaudhry had also raised their issue in Parliament.

What assurance has Kiran Chaudhry given to the farmers?

A delegation of farmers met Rajya Sabha MP Kiran Chaudhry on Friday who assured the farmers that the government would take cognizance of their grievances and that appropriate action would be taken soon. She stated that she had already raised the issue in Parliament and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan had taken note of it.