The report released on Friday by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) showed state-level “implementation gaps” in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), which replaced the previous National Agricultural Insurance Scheme in April 2016.
These discrepancies could negate the benefits accorded by the scheme to farmers, the non-profit think tank said. The CSE report cited state-wise data from the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare to show that insurance companies had only settled 32.45% of the claims made till April 2017.
While farmers raised claims for nearly Rs 6,000 crore, they were paid less than Rs 2,000 crore.
Citing data from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, the CSE pointed out that insurance companies grossed more than Rs 15,891 crore in premiums.
Incidentally, the implementation-related shortcomings listed in this report are strikingly similar to the discrepancies found by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in crop insurance schemes that were in effect between 2011 and 2016. The CAG report was tabled in Parliament on Friday.
The CAG stated that while coverage of farmers under the schemes was “negligible”, two-thirds of the subjects surveyed were not even aware of them that means they paid premium for insurance but not availed any benefit inspite of crop loss.