Maharashtra govt mulls Rs 5 lakh insurance cover for farmers

An insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh and counselling sessions for farmers in Maharashtra are some measures the state government is planning, in order to stop farmers in debt from committing suicide.

An insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh and counselling sessions for farmers in Maharashtra are some measures the state government is planning, in order to stop farmers in debt from committing suicide.

Revenue minister Eknath Khadse told the legislative Council, “The government is thinking of giving insurance cover to farmers, to the tune of Rs 5 lakh.” Khadse said the state will also pay the premium.

Khadse’s announcement came after Council members on Tuesday raised the issue of the increasing cases of farmer suicides in the state and demanded the government becomes more proactive to stop them.

The members said the government’s failure to offer respite was increasing the number of suicides.

Khadse said the state was also planning a comprehensive programme to educate and counsel farmers facing drought, so that they can deal with the crisis better. “We need to counsel our farmers and divert their minds,” he said.

Earlier, Opposition leader in the Council Dhananjay Munde said the farmers were resorting to the extreme stem because crops had failed. “The government is not offering suitable compensation to the farmers, and are letting them die. There is no suitable relief given to the distressed farmers,” Munde said.