Telangana farmers anxious as Congress govt fails to pay premium under Rythu Bima

The Congress government has failed to pay the premium for the Rythu Bima scheme, effectively halting the popular farmer insurance programme that has been in place for eight years in Telangana. The move comes at a time when farmers are already grappling with deficient rainfall and uncertainty over crop production, leaving them anxious about financial security.

Hyderabad: The farming community in Telangana is worried as the Congress government appears to have drawn the curtains on the popular Rythu Bima scheme, which has been implemented for the past eight years. The move comes at a time when farmers are already concerned about deficit rainfall due to El Nino and its impact on production.

Under Rythu Bima, the State government provides insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh to farmers in case of any eventuality. The government pays a premium of nearly Rs 1,350 crore towards the implementation of the scheme.

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The last date for payment of the premium to the Life Insurance Corporation of India was August 14. However, the State government has not paid the premium for the insurance coverage to be extended to farmers.

As the premium has not been paid, the insurance coverage would not be offered and no benefits would be available to the farmer’s families.

The previous BRS government had launched Rythu Bima with the intention of providing financial assistance to a farmer’s family in case of his death. Under the scheme, all farmers aged between 18 and 59 years in a family were eligible for insurance coverage.

If both husband and wife, as well as their children, were enrolled as farmers and possessed passbooks, they were covered under the scheme.

Under the insurance arrangement, the government and farmers were required to share the premium cost. However, the previous government bore the farmers’ share of the premium and extended the insurance coverage.

Officials have remained tight-lipped over the reasons for failing to pay the premium.

There are speculations that the Congress government would shortly launch Indiramma Family Insurance, or Indiramma Kutumba Jeevitha Bima.

In March, there was a formal announcement that the government would launch Indiramma Kutumba Jeevitha Bima, covering 1.15 crore families across the State.

The scheme is likely to be launched on November 19 in connection with the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. However, there has been no official announcement on these plans and no guidelines have been issued so far.

The government would conduct a door-to-door survey to identify eligible beneficiaries under the scheme. Though the entire premium would be borne by the State government, the insurance amount is likely to be paid only in the event of the death of the registered head of the family or the primary breadwinner.

The uncertainty over the implementation of Rythu Bima is leaving farmers worried.

“When it comes to farmers’ welfare, governments should set aside politics and strive for the benefit of ryots,” said Yadagiri Reddy of Telangana Farmers Federation.