West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday (2nd January) accused the central government of making fake claims of providing crop insurance to farmers in the state adding that her government bore 80 % of the insurance payout. She said from now onwards the state government will pay the full amount and won’t let the Centre take any credit for the state’s crop insurance scheme by bearing a small 20% of the cost.
She said that “We will not allow the Centre to do politics with a sensitive issue like crop insurance by tagging their name with the scheme when it is only paying 20% of the premium amount. The state government currently foots 80% of the crop insurance amount and we will pay the full amount in future”.
In an effort to represent a farmer-friendly image before the upcoming elections, West Bengal CM last week had announced many schemes for 71 lakh farmers in the state. Under ‘Krishi Krishak Bandhu’ plan, Rs 2 lakh will be given to the family member of a farmer, aged between 18 to 60 years, in case of his death.
She also declared that a farmer get Rs 5,000 as financial aid for every acre of land in a year for a single crop. Under the scheme, the farmers would be given Rs 2,500 two times a year for growing a single crop/acre.
The TMC chief who has always been at the forefront in hitting the Modi-led BJP government over farm distress said, “West Bengal gives the major portion of the premium and the central government uses its name. This cannot continue, we will pay the complete amount henceforth”.
Banerjee also stressed upon a rainwater harvesting scheme of the state government known as ‘Jal Dharo Jal Bharo’ in drought-prone areas.
