Insurance firms accused of raising ‘unfair objections’ to crop loss claims

Farmers held a major protest at Bhattu Kalan in Fatehabad on Monday, accusing insurance companies of making unfair objections to their claims for crop loss. The protesters gathered outside the tehsil office, under the banner of the All India Kisan Sabha, and shouted slogans against the insurance firms and the state government for allegedly supporting them.

The protest was led by farmer leader Subhash Chandra Bhadu and conducted by Rohtash Dudi. District president Vishnudutt Sharma also attended the demonstration. After the protest, the farmers submitted a memorandum to the Naib Tehsildar, demanding removal of objections raised by the insurance companies, release of pending crop insurance claims and immediate financial aid for farmers whose crops were damaged by waterlogging and heavy rains.

Sharma said many villages in the district suffered severe waterlogging this year, destroying crops completely. In 15-20 villages, the farmers have been facing crop loss year after year and are now under heavy debt.

The farmers also demanded genuine seeds and fertilisers at subsidised rates through societies, loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh for farmers and labourers, an increase in old-age pension to Rs 10,000 per month, Rs 5,000 per acre support for stubble management and immediate cotton procurement by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI).