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Bengal

Bengal running crop insurance scheme without Centre's help: CM

Kolkata: The Bengal government has been running crop insurance scheme for the farmers on its own, after the Centre refused to provide funds under its share of 20 percent, said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday.

While addressing the Assembly, the Chief Minister said that her government has spent Rs 800 crore on crop insurance for the farmers. "No funds have been given by the Centre," Banerjee alleged.

"The Bengal government used to spend 80 percent of the total cost of the project, while the Centre used to bear 20 percent. Before the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the Centre was sending letters to the people with a photograph of the Prime Minister. They also claimed credit for the scheme. Hence, we decided not to take funds from the Centre. Now, we are running the scheme without help from the Modi government," Banerjee said.

The Chief Minister also reminded that due to prolonged election schedule and the Model Code of Conduct, the registration process of farmers was put on hold. She also stressed on the necessity of the scheme, as the farmers benefit from it immensely.

She also talked about the 'Krishak Banbhu' scheme of the government, which ensures a compensation of Rs 2 lakh in case of death of a farmer between the age group of 18-60 and a yearly cash assistance of Rs 5,000 per acre.

More than 72 lakh farmers in the state are benefitted through the scheme. The financial assistance is paid in case of both natural and unnatural deaths.

The state government incurs expenses to the tune of hundreds of crores for the same and the move guarantees that the families are not completely at a loss, in case of the death of a farmer.

The scheme, which is a brainchild of the Chief Minister, is being implemented by the state Agriculture department.

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