Crop insurance: Ministers to meet Pawar today

The State Government has decided to reiterate its demand for payment of crop insurance to farmers of 603 gram panchayats whose crops were damaged in natural calamities last year.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patro and Rural Development Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh will take up the matter with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in Delhi on Wednesday.

There was immense crop loss in 2011 due to flood and drought. While 21 districts faced drought-like situation, flood damaged crops in 17 districts. The State Government had provided input subsidy to the affected farmers as per the provisions of the Relief Code.

However, farmers of some areas, who were covered under crop insurance, did not receive the insurance amount following the crop damage.

Earlier, a block was taken as a unit for crop insurance. However, since last year, gram panchayats are being taken as units and the policy covers farmers with more than 50 per cent crop damage.

Despite being identified by the State Government, farmers of 603 gram panchayats, who suffered more than 50 per cent crop damage, are yet to be compensated.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had already written to the Centre in this regard demanding coverage of the 603 gram panchayats under the crop insurance scheme.