Year on, farmers await insurance claims

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, November 15

Anil Bamal, a young farmer of Bhatol Jatan village, sowed paddy and cotton on his seven and a half acres in 2017. Since he had taken loan through Kisan Credit Card, he got insurance cover for his crop by default as the local branch of the Bank of Baroda deducted about Rs 5,600 as premium for crops under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

Later, his crops suffered damage due to whitefly and fungus due to untimely rain in the region. But his claim was denied by Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company under the crop insurance scheme. Anil and about 760 farmers of many villages were still to get their claims though the bank had automatically deducted premium from their bank accounts.

Talking to The Tribune, Anil said like him, these farmers from Bhatol Jatan Bhatol Jatan, Bhatol Rangdan, Kharkhara, Jeetpura, Bhadala, Kharbala and Seesar had been waiting for insurance claims to be settled for over a year now.

He said after rejection of claim by the insurance firm, they met district agriculture officials and the Deputy Commissioner. He said finally, the lead bank manager, Hisar, informed them that their claims had been turned down as premium was not deposited with the insurance firm.

“We were taken aback as our bank accounts showed that premium was deducted by the bank. Though we tried to convince bank officials and district administration to look into the matter, nobody was bothered. We had to lock the bank on October 1 to register our protest, after which senior bank officials agreed to sort out the issue,” he said.

However, one and a half months later, nothing had happened, said Anil. He added that they had met the bank manager, who has assured them of a settlement. Local branch manager of Bank of Baroda Ravinder Kumar and Bajaj Allianz official Rahul said they had taken up the issue with the higher authorities.

Hisar Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Meena said they were inquiring into the matter. He asserted that whosoever was found guilty would be taken to task. “If the claims of farmers are found to be valid, they will get their insurance claims,” he added.