Lok Sabha Question No. 3749 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-21
Subject: Automatic Payment under PMFBY
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: S. Muniswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3749

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST  DECEMBER, 2021

## AUTOMATIC PAYMENT UNDER PMFBY

3749. SHRI S. MUNISWAMY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  having  the  options  of  auto-registration  and payment of insurance amount under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) so that few farmers are not left out due to nonpayment of crop insurance amount in time; (b)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  intends  to  utilize  the  experience  of  private  sector insurance  professionals  to  further  streamline  the  process  of  the  PMFBY  across  the country; and (c) whether there is a dedicated cell in the Ministry to monitor the scheme State-wise and
- district-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a)  : After detailed discussions with the stakeholders as well as keeping the convenience of farmers in mind, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has been made voluntary for  farmers  by  revamping  the  scheme  with  effect  crop  Kharif  2020  season  and  loanee farmers, if not opted out by giving option to their before 7 days of cut-off date for enrolment are automatically covered under the scheme.  The premium to be paid by such farmers are being financed as additional component on existing loan/Kisan Credit Cards, which is debited from their account and farmers do not have to pay any premium from their pocket. In addition to traditional enrolment channels like insurance through agents, local office of insurance  company;  various  electronically/online  channels  for  enrollment  like  Common

Service Centres (CSCs), web portal, mobile app  etc. have also been provided to other eligible farmers.

(b) & (c) : The Government is regularly monitoring the implementation of PMFBY through weekly video conferences with stakeholders and separate video conference with empanelled  insurance  companies.        A  Technical  Support  Unit  (TSU)  or  Programme Monitoring Unit (PMU)  consisting of professionals with requisite  competencies  for managing important aspects of the scheme viz financial, capacity building, product design, actuarial aspects, MIS and data analysis, Portal, Social Media, Environment, Procurement, Monitoring & Evaluation and Administration has also been constituted.

Further,  Government  has  taken  several  steps  to  create  substantial  awareness about  the  scheme  amongst  beneficiaries  so  that  they  can  enroll  themselves  voluntarily under the scheme. The Government has made provision to ensure availability of adequate funds for awareness of PMFBY from Rabi 2018-19. The revised Operational Guidelines for PMFBY which came into effect from 1 st October 2018 have provided that the insurance companies  should  allocate  0.5%  of  the  total  gross  premium  collected  by  them  for Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities.   The Government has actively supporting  the  awareness  activities  being  carried  out  by  the  States,  implementing Insurance Companies, financial institutions, and CSC network to disseminate key features of PMFBY amongst farmers and members of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for better implementation of the scheme.  Insurance companies in association of State Governments and their field functionaries are also organizing 'Fasal Bima Pathshala' at village level to educate the farmers about the provisions and benefits of the scheme.

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