A scam of over Rs 26 crore has come to the fore under National Agriculture Insurance Scheme in Aurangabad district, as farmers have not yet been paid crop insurance money sent to different banks in December 2010 and April 2011.
These banks include SBI, PNB, Allahabad Bank, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, United Bank of India, Bank of India, Indian Bank and Madhya Bihar Gramin Bank. The total amount to be distributed by these banks to farmers was over Rs 26.46 crore.
While PNB was given Rs 2.13 crore in December 2010 for compensating the loss incurred by farmers on kharif crops, not a paisa has been disbursed by the bank yet. Similarly, Allahabad Bank was given Rs 10.97 lakh for compensating the farmers for the loss of kharif crops in 2009, Rs 6.67 lakh for rabi crops in 2009 and Rs 35.22 lakh for kharif crops in 2010.
Madhya Bihar Gramin Bank was provided Rs 1.82 crore for rabi crops in 2009-10, Rs 82.08 lakh and Rs 61.04 lakh for kharif crops in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Besides, other banks like United Bank of India, Bank of India, Indian Bank, Central Bank of India, Canara Bank and Bank of Baroda were given funds, but they are yet to disburse the amount.
Incidentally, some banks have even claimed that they have not yet received funds for disbursal. SBI, which was given Rs 4.85 crore for rabi crops in 2009-10 and Rs 11.63 lakh and Rs 61.04 lakh for kharif crops in 2009 and 2010 respectively, has claimed that it is yet to receive the amount for the year 2010. PNB has taken a similar stand.
Cooperative minister Ramadhar Singh has ordered an inquiry into the matter, which is being done by joint registrar, cooperative department, Ashok Kumar Jha. The minister blamed the UPA government at the Centre for the mess, saying "this is a conspiracy by the Congress to defame the state's NDA government".
Singh said, "We have all the documents which show that insurance companies have paid the insurance amount but due to bank officials' negligence, the same was yet to be distributed among the farmers. Investigations are being carried out in all these cases. FIRs would be lodged against the bank officials found guilty." Similar complaints have been received from other districts also, he added.
Source - The Times of India