Distribute crop insurance money in 7 days: CM

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday asked the Department of Cooperation to distribute crop insurance amount among the flood and drought-hit farmers in seven days.

Official sources said the money will be transferred to the respective bank accounts of the farmers through the electronic transfer system.

Chairman-cum-managing director of the Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AICI) handed over a cheque for ` 110 crore to the managing director of Odisha State Cooperative Bank (OSCB) in the presence of Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat.

A total of 5,71,682 farmers affected by last year’s flood and drought, would  benefit from the national agricultural insurance scheme. The affected farmers will get ` 657.32 crore as insurance money.

The State Government had already contributed its share of ` 277.72 crore to the insurance company. Official sources said the Centre will contribute its entire share.

National agriculture insurance scheme and weather-based agriculture insurance scheme are being implemented to compensate the farmers whose crops are damaged due to natural calamities like drought and flood.

The State Government has announced panchayat as a unit for agriculture insurance for paddy crop.

Rural Development and Cooperation Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh and Secretary Mona Sharma were present.