Health Insurance Scheme for Farmers

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday rolled out a health insurance scheme Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojna (BKKY) on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya festival, which marks the beginning of cultivation. Donning the role of a farmer, Naveen sowed paddy seeds at Barimula in Kendrapara district. The state government has been observing Akshay Tritiya as Krushak Divas (farmers’ day).

The BKKY will provide insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh to five members of around 50 lakh farmer families each, Naveen said while addressing a public meeting at Tillotamadeipur village under Derabish block of Kendrapada district. An estimated 2.5 crore people belonging to 50 lakh families will avail themselves of the benefits under the scheme. A sum of Rs 100 crore has been allocated in this year’s budget for the purpose.

All the cultivators will be covered under the insurance irrespective of their below poverty line (BPL) or above poverty line (APL) status, a government statement said.

The CM also unveiled the new state agriculture policy 2013 .

He said the State Government will take steps to irrigate 12 lakh hectares (ha) of land in the State within two years. All the farmers will get agriculture loan under Biju Krushi Kalyan Yojana at two per cent rate of interest. Health cards are also in the offing for farmers.

The State Agriculture Policy – 2013 would lay focus on irrigation and food processing industries, the Chief Minister said. The State Government has also decided to sanction agriculture loan to the tune of `6,000 crore for kharif and rabi crop this year. Besides, Naveen said `11,000 crore would be spent for facilitating lift irrigation under the newly implemented agriculture policy.

Earlier, the state government had announced free cell phones to the farmers. “Once the pilot scheme is successful, it will be extended to other areas. In the first phase, nearly 20,000 farmers, registered under the regulated market societies, will be provided mobile phones,” state’s finance minister Prasanna Acharya said.