Farmers observe 'Chaka Jam' over delay in crop insurance claims

Sambalpur: Farmers organisations today observed a three-hour 'Chaka Jam' agitation at different places in Sambalpur town protesting delay in disbursal of crop insurance claims.

Hundreds of farmers staged the protest and blocked the national highway and as many as 17 places in the town. Due to the shutdown, hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the road.

Agitators alleged that even after one year, crop insurance amount under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana on account of pest attack and drought during last season is yet to be distributed.

"There is some error in the insurance schemes as private companies are not obeying the directives of the Centre and the State government to provide crop insurance amount on basis of crop cutting report," said an agitating farmer.

Expressing similar views, another farmer said, "We are opposing the state government's lackadaisical attitude and delay in waiver of agriculture loans and declaration of the district as drought-hit areas."

In coming days the agitation will be intensified if the state government fails to take any action, he added.