The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has declared the withdrawal of a writ petition by Kshema General Insurance Company Limited from the Punjab and Haryana High Court as a significant victory for farmers in the Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, and Nuh districts of Haryana. The insurance firm, which administers crop coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), had challenged a ruling by the Central Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) that favored farmers over compensation claims worth approximately Rs 85 crore for mustard crops grown during the Rabi season of 2023-24.
Background of the Dispute
Kshema General Insurance had initially canceled insurance coverage for mustard crops valued at Rs 85 crore for the 2023-24 Rabi season. In response, the affected farmers approached the CTAC, which ruled in their favor. The company then filed a writ petition in the High Court contesting the committee's decision. The AIKS has now welcomed the firm's decision to withdraw this petition, interpreting it as an acceptance of the farmers' claims.
Separate Cotton Crop Claims
In a related but distinct matter, the same insurance company reduced farmers' insurance claims by Rs 250 crore for damage to the 2023-24 Kharif crop, particularly cotton, by relying on satellite-based technical yield estimates instead of traditional crop-cutting data. This decision sparked prolonged protests by farmers under the banner of the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, who staged a day-and-night dharna for 11 months outside the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office in Loharu.
Farmer leader Balbir Singh Thakran stated that the state government eventually formed a State Level Grievance Redressal Committee (SLGRC), led by the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Agriculture Department, to address the issue. The SLGRC recently directed the insurance firm to pay the outstanding insurance claim amount of Rs 250 crore to the farmers.
Impact of the Withdrawal
Thakran emphasized that the withdrawal of the petition from the High Court represents a victory for the farmers' continuous and disciplined struggle over an extended period. He asserted that this decision has paved the way for a favorable resolution on the farmers' claims of Rs 250 crore as well. According to Thakran, Bhiwani and Nuh districts account for Rs 85 crore in outstanding mustard insurance claims, while Charkhi Dadri and Bhiwani districts account for the Rs 250 crore in outstanding claims.
"Now, by withdrawing its writ petition from the court, the company has, in effect, agreed to disburse the outstanding insurance claim to farmers," Thakran said. The AIKS has hailed the development as a testament to the power of organized farmer movements and has called for timely payment of all dues to the affected cultivators.
