GUWAHATI, Feb 12 - The Centre has given its nod to the Assam government�s proposal for exempting payment of farmers� share of premium up to one hectare of land under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
Sources told The Assam Tribune that the decision to sanction the premium subsidy was taken during a recent meeting between officials of the Centre and the State government. The premium subsidy is expected to benefit small and marginal farmers as well as help in further increasing enrolment under the Central scheme in Assam.
�It is a very crucial decision. While the State government had proposed such a measure, the sanction of the Union Government was necessary as the PMFBY is a Central scheme. It will have far reaching implications for crop insurance coverage in Assam and help in expansion of the scheme. The exemption will be especially beneficial for small and marginal farmers who constitute a big segment of the total farming population of Assam,� said a senior official.
As per the decision, farmers will now be eligible for exemption of the premium share of farmers up to one hectare. �The farmer�s share of the premium of farmers insuring less than or up to one hectare of land, irrespective of any number of crops insured, will be borne by the State government. Eligible farmers will be required to submit a self-declaration of ownership of less than or up to one hectare of land. A token amount of Re 1 will be charged from the farmer to facilitate electronic tracking,� the official said.
He added, �However, farmers owning more than one hectare of land will pay full farmer�s share of premium and he or she will not be eligible for availing the premium subsidy.�
In case of farmers cultivating multiple crops the State government has decided to prioritize the notified crops within or up to one hectare under the PMFBY.
As per the list, first priority will be to winter paddy, followed by black gram and jute crop for the kharif season.
With regard to rabi season, and first priority will be given to summer paddy, second to potato, third to sugarcane and fourth to rapeseed and mustard. Officials added that Kisan Credit Card (KCC) holders will be able to enrol only as loanee farmers and not as non-loanee farmers via other channels. In case KCC holding farmers enrol themselves as non-loanee under the PMFBY, their policy will be terminated.
