Give farmers extension to pay crop insurance: Leader of Opposition

Leader of Opposition (LoP) Dhananjay Munde in the state Legislative Council has demanded that farmers should be given an extension of 15 more days to pay the crop insurance of this year’s kharif season. The last date for paying crop insurance is July 31.

Raising the issue in the Legislative Council, Mr Munde said 11 lakh farmers from the state have been deprived of crop insurance, whereas farmers in districts like Buldhana and Aurangabad have received very less insurance. “The deadline for paying the crop insurance is July 31. But taking into account the bank employees’ strike on Friday and the government holidays on Saturday and Sunday, farmers are left with only one day to pay the crop insurance. As it will be difficult for all state farmers to pay crop insurance in a single day, lakhs of farmers are likely to be deprived of crop insurance,” he said.

Farmers in six other states have already been given 15 days of extension for paying the crop insurance. Maharashtra farmers should be given such concession on these lines to enable them to pay crop insurance, said Mr Munde.

Relying to him, minister of state for agriculture, Sadabhau Khot, said talks are on with the Centre to offer extension to farmers for crop insurance.

Meanwhile, LC chairman Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar has directed to convene a special meeting at the state Legislature to discuss the anomalies in the draft Development Plan for Ulhasnagar city.