A suspected crop insurance fraud under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has come to light in Kirtan village of Hisar district, where land-owning farmers allege that unknown individuals have insured their crops without consent.

Complaints lodged with the Agriculture Department reveal that crops such as chickpeas (chana) have been insured despite farmers cultivating wheat and mustard on their land.

The suspected fraud involves the use of forged tenant certificates submitted at Common Service Centres (CSCs) or insurance agencies to claim that the land has been leased for farming.

Bhup Singh, a farmer who sowed mustard and wheat on his four-acre plot, discovered that his land had been insured for chana. “I don’t even have a Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and have never insured my crops before. I’m shocked to learn that someone insured my land this rabi season,” he said, adding that he had not leased out his land to anyone.

Similarly, Suraj Bhan, another farmer with seven acres of farmland, said he was surprised when he attempted to insure his mustard and wheat crops. “I was told by the CSC operator that my land was already insured for chana crop,” he said. Rajender and many other farmers in the village reported similar experiences.

Villagers have compiled a list of agricultural land parcels insured by individuals who are not residents of the village or Hisar. “We’ve shared the information on WhatsApp groups to alert farmers about the insurance status of their crops,” said a villager, adding that around 200 farmers were affected. “No one in our village has leased land to outsiders,” he asserted.

Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA) Rajbir Singh confirmed receiving complaints and has ordered an investigation. “The list of affected farmers has been forwarded to the insurance firm, which is verifying the data. If crops have been wrongly insured, the insurance amount will be refunded,” he said. He also noted that farmers could approach the police for criminal proceedings if they wished to take further action.

Notably, similar frauds have occurred in the past, where crops were insured using the farmers’ bank account and mobile numbers during registration. Sources revealed that nearly 100 individuals had been booked in Rohnat village of Bhiwani district for similar scams under PMFBY.

Source - https://www.tribuneindia.com