Insurance Scandals Plague Rajasthan's Crop Protection Scheme

Rajasthan's Agriculture Minister highlights major irregularities under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, involving insurance companies and banks. Investigations reveal fraudulent activities leading to significant financial losses for farmers. The government is taking measures to ensure rightful compensation and improve the scheme's integrity.

Allegations of fraud within India's Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana have surfaced, as Rajasthan's Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena addressed the Assembly about serious discrepancies. Both insurance companies and banks are implicated in activities that deprived farmers of deserved compensation.

Inspectors noted that an insurance company surveyor in Karanpur allegedly falsified forms, indicating zero percent crop damage, when actual losses ranged significantly higher. This deceit alone cost farmers an estimated Rs 128 crore, resulting in ongoing investigations initiated by the Special Operations Group.

Separate incidents in Salasar reveal banks opening unauthorized accounts to make fake premium deductions. These actions potentially cost Rs 9 crore in wrongful payments. In response, the minister called on the central government to reconsider awarding tenders to implicated firms and emphasized expediting verification processes to address pending claims.

(With inputs from agencies.)