“Voluntary enrollment in Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Our scheme, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has ensured risk mitigation and provided insurance cover for all farmers. We will make enrolment of farmers under the scheme voluntary.” — Promise in 2019 BJP Manifesto
An evaluation of the research information below indicates that:
Taking a yearly average of these reported numbers, this comes up to 2.9 crore farmers receiving claims (20% of all farmers) every year. No clarity on individual farmer applicants receiving claims year on year has been provided. According to the party’s 2019 manifesto, the number of voluntary enrolment in the scheme would be increased. According to the PIB article, this stood at 42% for the year 2023-24. Taking the best case scenario therefore, the progress made under this promise stands at 42%.
It can therefore be concluded that:
The Government’s objectively verifiable performance is 58% lower than the promised objective of enrolling all farmers (100% coverage). According to a Government press release, the number of farmers enrolled in the scheme was 42% for the year 2023-24.
Sources
According to:
1. The 43rd report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing, dated 20.12.2022, which is an evaluation report of the PMFBY scheme: “The Committee are happy to note that the Government has made the Scheme optional for all the farmers (Loanee/Non-Loanee) from Kharif 2020 . The Non-Loanee farmers desirous of availing insurance under PMFBY for any Notified Crop in any Notified Insurance Unit may approach the nearest Bank-Branch/PACS/Authorized Channel Partner/ CSC/Insurance Intermediary of Insurance Company or directly fill up the Online Application Form on the NCIP within cutoff date and simultaneously upload/ submit the requisite documents and 5 applicable premium to the concerned Agency. Whereas, the Existing Loanee farmers who do not want to get covered under the Scheme have the option of opting out from the Scheme by submitting requisite declaration to loan sanctioning bank branches any time during the year but at least seven days prior to the cut-off date for enrolment of farmers for the respective Season. All those Loanee farmers who do not submit the declaration would be essentially covered. The Committee are of the considered view that though the Loanee farmers can opt out of the Scheme by submitting a declaration form but most of the farmers are ignorant about this provision and the amount gets mandatorily deducted from their account. The Committee therefore recommend the Department to change this provision and provide that only those Loanee farmers who want to avail the Scheme be required to fill the requisite form for deduction. There should be no compulsory deduction from the account of Loanee farmers.”
In its Action-taken Reply, the Department has stated:
“The above said provision has been made in view of administrative challenge specially during COVID-19 pandemic situation. Intensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities including publicity and awareness campaigns are being organized through different medium to make the farmers aware about this provision.”
2. Question No. 265 (Starred) , Lok Sabha 17,Session 12, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, August 8, 2023, “Though the scheme is voluntary for the farmers, more than 30% of the Gross Cropped Area (GCA) and non-loanee farmers of implementing States are covered under the scheme, which shows the acceptance of the scheme among farmers.”
3. The Press Information Bureau(PIB) in March 2024, “In the past 8 Years of implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, 56.80 crore farmer applications have been enrolled and over 23.22 crore farmer applicants received claims. During this period, nearly Rs. 31,139 crore were paid by farmers as their share of premium against which claims of over Rs. 1,55,977 crore have been paid to them. Thus, for every 100 rupees of premium paid by farmers, they have received about Rs. 500 as claims…Also 42% of total farmers insured under the scheme in FY 2023-24 are non-loanee farmers.”
Research Results
1. https://sansad.in/getFile/lsscommittee/Agriculture,%20Animal%20Husbandry%20and%20Food%20Processing/17_Agriculture_Animal_Husbandry_and_Food_Processing_43.pdf?source=loksabhadocs
2. https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/1712/AS265.pdf?source=pqals
3. https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/17/AU1385.pdf?source=pqals
4. https://nationalinsurance.nic.co.in/en/pradhan-mantri-fasal-bima-yojana-pmfby
5. https://pmfby.gov.in/stateWiseDataPage
6. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2011791
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