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Insurance cover for more plantation workers

NEW DELHI: The Centre has cleared the proposal to extend personal accident insurance scheme to small farmers and workers engaged in growing spices, besides enhancing the insurance cover from Rs.25,000 to Rs.1 lakh.

The scheme, which was so far available to only those involved in tea, coffee, rubber and tobacco farming, will now also benefit lakhs of farmers and workers engaged in farming of spices across the country.

Talking to The Hindu, Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) cleared the modified “Personal Accident Insurance Scheme” to include workers and growers of five spice crops — chilly, ginger, turmeric, pepper and cardamom. Though farmers across the country would be benefited by the revised scheme, the major beneficiaries would be from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

“Supported by Price Stabilisation Fund Trust, the scheme will be applicable to workers and farmers engaged in farming in land up to four hectares. The insurance cover for the scheme has been enhanced to Rs.1 lakh from Rs. 25,000 for both growers and permanent workers deployed on such plantations, in case of death and permanent disability,” Mr. Ramesh said.

Stating that the premium would be Rs.22 per person, he said the premium would be equally shared by the growers and the Price Stabilisation Fund Trust (PSFT) set up by the Ministry of Commerce for providing financial relief to the growers when the prices of these commodities fell below a specified level.

“We have already approved an outlay of Rs.6.6 crore for the purpose. The modified scheme will now benefit over 60 lakh farmers and workers, including 15 lakh growers.”

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