Out of 4 lakh applications received for compensation for onion loss, 2 lakh are fake

Mumbai: The state government has launched an agricultural insurance scheme to compensate farmers in case of crop damage due to natural disasters or unseasonal rains. About 4 lakh onion growers had applied to get compensation of Rs 50 to 80 thousand. Half of these, i.e. more than fifty-two lakh applications, were found to be fake during scrutiny.

Government investigation has revealed that the government has saved around Rs 70 crore due to ineligibility for onion crop insurance applications in 96 thousand hectares.

Suspecting that there was something fishy in the V scheme for onion growers, 10 different squads in Nashik, Dutse, Ahilyanagar, Pune, Solapur, Sambhajinagar, Satara, Beed districts investigated and the Agriculture Officer personally processed the applications. Investigated. It revealed that 1,74,972 applications were ineligible due to being fake. 83,911 farmers applied for insurance despite not growing onions. There were 60,258 applications in which a larger portion of the crop grown was insured. Thus, half the applications were disqualified and the government saved crores of rupees.