Farmers agitation in Ramgarh, Rajasthan: Farmers gherao bank when deprived of crop insurance benefit

thumbnailFarmers started an indefinite dharna in front of the State Bank in the Ramgarh sub-district on 27th July 2018 to press for their demand of payment of crop insurance benefits.

Earlier on 26th June 2018, hundreds of farmers had started the agitation with the same demand. On that occasion, agitating farmers assembled at the bank. They made a human chain to encircle had the bank and started a dharna.

Farmers started an indefinite dharna in front of the State Bank in the Ramgarh sub-district on 27th July 2018 to press for their demand of payment of crop insurance benefits.

Earlier on 26th June 2018, hundreds of farmers had started the agitation with the same demand. On that occasion, agitating farmers assembled at the bank. They made a human chain to encircle had the bank and started a dharna.

Dharna at SBI Ramgarh on 28 July 2018

Farmers dharna resumed on 28th July 2018

Dharna at SBI Ramgarh on 28 July 2018

at SBI branch in Ramgarh

The administration was shaken by the agitation. As soon as information about the agitation reached them, they dispatched large numbers of policemen to control the situation. Along with the police, the top manager of State Bank and Assistant Agriculture Director also reached there and held discussions with the farmers. They had to admit that farmers demand was just. It was agreed in the meeting that the problem of the farmers will be resolved within a month and farmers will receive their insurance payments. With this assurance, the agitating farmers ended the encirclement of the bank by night of 26th June.

​Farmers dharna started on 26th June 2018

 

Farmers dharna started on 26th June 2018

Bank gherao on 26th June 2018 in Ramgarh

Farmers dharna resumed on 26th June 2018

 

Since the problem has not been resolved in a month, farmers have resumed their indefinite dharna at the State Bank on 27th July. They have declared that until the Rupees eight crores insurance payment is made, they will continue their agitation. It is well known that the insurance payment for the 2017 Rabi crop insurance of 1200 farmers has been gobbled up jointly by the bank and a private insurance company. The farmers had deposited the insurance premium in the bank. Now the private insurance company, Bajaj Alliance is refusing to make payment to the farmers saying that money was not deposited in time. Thus, the farmers have been deprived of the Rupees eight crores payment due to them on account of crop failure. Prior to this, farmers had held two meetings with bank management and the adminstration, but they remained unsuccessful.

Among those who addressed the farmers were District President of Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha, Balwan Punia, All-India Vice President of Lok Raj Sangathan, Hanuman Prasad Sharma, Former Sarpanches, Om Prakash Sahu, Dhanpat Nehra, Zilla Parishad member, Mangej Choudhary, District Secretary, Vinod Swami, District Vice President, Chotu Ram Godara, District Joint Secretary of Kisan Sabha, Rohtash Solanki, former Member of Kisan Samiti, Rishi Pal Kasania, along with Kuldeep Bhambhu and J P Una.

The Ramgarh farmers are not alone in facing such a problem. All over the country, farmers are fighting for protection against failed crops along with other demands. Under the crop insurance scheme announced by the government, private insurance companies are refusing payment on various pretexts. This clearly shows that the real aim of the government announced schemes is to benefit private insurance companies by multiplying their profits and not to provide relief for the farmers.

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