Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday held an urgent meeting in Delhi to review complaints under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), following reports of farmers receiving claims as low as Rs 1 or Rs 5.
Calling such payments a “mockery of farmers,” he directed officials and insurance companies to ensure fair and swift settlements. Chouhan interacted virtually with affected farmers from Maharashtra and sought explanations from senior officials, including those of the Sehore district.
He ordered a field investigation into all such cases, review of the damage assessment system, and amendments to prevent inconsistencies in the scheme.
The Minister also instructed states to promptly release their subsidy shares, warning of 12% interest on delays, and asked for scientific verification of remote-sensing assessments.
Reaffirming PM Narendra Modi’s vision of farmer welfare, Chouhan said he would not allow the scheme’s credibility to be compromised and stressed using technology to ensure transparency and justice for every farmer.
