Supporters of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), the main opposition party in Haryana, yesterday held a march here to protest against the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (Prime Minister’s Crop Insurance Scheme).
They claimed that the premium paid under the scheme was being forcibly collected from Haryana farmers, especially those who have taken agricultural loans from banks.
The protestors, including women, carrying banners and posters and shouting slogans against the union and state BJP governments, demanded that the scheme should not be implemented in Haryana.
The INLD workers gathered at the Old Jail Complex near the Sohna Chowk and, after a short rally, marched towards the Mini-Secretariat here, which houses offices of the state government departments, including the Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner.
The protestors were led by former Haryana deputy speaker Gopi Chand Gahlot and other senior party leaders.
The protestors later handed over a memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner V P Singh to be forwarded to Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki.
Under the scheme, farmers avail of insurance cover against crop loss due to natural calamities and pay a uniform premium of 2% for kharif crops and 1.5% for rabi crops.
For annual commercial and horticultural crops, farmers pay a premium of 5%.
The remaining share of the premium, as in previous schemes, will continue to be borne equally by the Centre and the respective state governments.
Haryana Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar said over 20% farmers in the state have opted for the scheme.
The protestors also raised the issues of property and development taxes charged by the state government, claiming it was not providing basic amenities to the state’s residents.