Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar has called for the announcement of a crop insurance scheme for farmers during the upcoming special Vidhan Sabha session on April 13. He emphasized that despite the central government’s implementation of such a scheme, the state government has not yet notified it. Jakhar expressed concern over the lack of compensation for farmers facing natural calamities like unseasonal rains and hailstorms, highlighting the urgent need for a crop insurance program in Punjab.
Jakhar reminded Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of the delayed promise to introduce Punjab’s own agricultural insurance scheme, which was proposed three years ago. He stressed that the prolonged absence of a compensation mechanism has left farmers vulnerable to significant losses caused by various disasters. Jakhar urged the Chief Minister to prioritize the implementation of a crop insurance scheme either at the state level or by adopting the existing central government scheme to safeguard farmers’ interests.
During a media interaction, Jakhar recommended redirecting funds from the state treasury, currently burdened with debt, towards subsidizing insurance premiums for farmers instead of excessive advertising expenditures. He also demanded the immediate release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) for employees and pensioners, underscoring the pressing financial needs of various stakeholders in Punjab.
