Lok Sabha Question No. 34 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-02
Subject: Accidents in Agriculture Sector
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Prathap Simha

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 34

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  FEBRUARY, 2021

## ACCIDENTS IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR

34. SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

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

- (a) whether  there  is  any  scheme  for  providing  compensation  of  insurance  claim  to  the victims of accidents in the agriculture sector;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the number of such victims provided compensation during the last two years and the current year?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (c): Government has introduced Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) to cover personal accidents of people including people working in rural/agriculture sector in the age group of 18-70 years having bank/post office account and who give their consent to join/enable auto-debit on or before 31 st May for the coverage period from 1 st July to 31 st May on  an  annual  renewable  basis.      The  risk  coverage  under  the  scheme  is  Rs.  2  lakh  for accidental death and full disability and Rs. 1 lakh for partial disability. The premium of Rs. 12 per annum is to be deducted from the account holder's bank / Post office account through 'auto-debit'  facility.  The  scheme  is  being  offered  by  Public  Sector  General  Insurance Companies or any other General Insurance Company who is offering the product on similar terms with necessary approvals and tie up with Banks and Post Offices for this purpose. Details of claims paid under PMSBY are given below :

| Cumulative Number of Claims Paid since Inception of PMSBY May, 2015 (Financial Year-wise)   | Cumulative Number of Claims Paid since Inception of PMSBY May, 2015 (Financial Year-wise)   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Period                                                                                      | Cumulative No. of Claims Paid                                                               |
| As on March, 2019                                                                           | 32176                                                                                       |
| As on March, 2020                                                                           | 39969                                                                                       |
| As on December, 2020                                                                        | 43617                                                                                       |

Farmers  can  also  insure  themselves  under  personal  accident  policy  under  Kisan Credit Card Scheme upto the age of 70 years for a risk cover of Rs. 50,000/- for accidental death or total disability and Rs. 25,000/- for partial disability.  Premium rate is Rs. 15 per year and some portion of the premium is borne by the concerned bank.

Further,  to  cater  to  all  insurance  needs  of  farmers  a  Unified  Package  Insurance Scheme (UPIS) has been introduced from Kharif 2016 as a pilot scheme.  The scheme is voluntary for the State Governments to implement the pilot in the selected districts. The pilot scheme has been designed to take care of all the insurance needs of farmers associated with their life, properties and agricultural activities such as crops, loss of life, accidental death & disability, student safety, household, agriculture implements and tractor.  Out of total of 7 covers under UPIS, Crop Insurance is compulsory and the farmer has to avail atleast two from  the  remaining  six  covers.    Insured  farmers  have  to  also  furnish  the  details,  if  they already availed similar coverage for them or their family members.    Most of the States had made coverage of these two sections voluntary; therefore, the coverage under other sections of the package including personal accident except crop insurance has been negligible or not reported.

*******