SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF RYTHU BIMA SCHEME - A CASE STUDY OF PEDDAPALLI DISTRICT IN TELANGANA STATE
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Date
2024-04-03
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PROFFESSOR JAYASHANKAR TELANGANA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Abstract
Agriculture is a predominant sector in Rural areas and plays a key role in
strengthening the National economy (TSEO, 2023). In Telangana, Agriculture plays a
pivotal role in its economy. But the farming sector in Telangana, is characterized by
poor productivity and production owing several factors like Natural disasters, small
land holdings, less technology usage, indebtedness, lack of credit in hand, loss of life
due to toxins and lack of insurance systems etc., which can lead to many economic
crises. Considering all these issues, the Government of Telangana came up with an
innovative insurance scheme called Rythu Bima or Farmers Group Life Insurance
Scheme in the year 2018, in addition to other several flagship programs that are aimed
at not only improving farmers’ income but also the overall well-being of the farming
community in the state.
“Rythu Bima or Farmers Group Life Insurance Scheme” is first of its kind and a
unique scheme in the India, introduced by the Government of Telangana, in the year
2018.
The present research study is aimed at analysing the implementation of Rythu
Bima in the state with a case study in Peddapalli district, where the progress of the
scheme is evaluated, since its inception in 2018, based on the primary data collected
from 120 sample farmers, 60 beneficiary and 60 non-beneficiary farmers in different
mandals of Peddapalli district. An integrated analytical approach is followed to analyse
both the primary and secondary data to arrive at meaningful conclusions and
inferences.
According to the analysis of the data of number of claims settled since 2018, till
20-01-2023, about 97784 claims were settled and about Rupees 4889.20 crores of
amount has been disbursed to the bereaved families of the farmers.
In Peddapalli district, around 1831 claims were settled disbursing around Rupees
91.55 crores of Rythu Bima benefit into the accounts of the nominee of the deceased
farmer.
The analysis further interpreted that, there are more deaths recorded (around 554
death claims settled) in the year 2020, showing the intensity of deaths due to COVID.
The analysis clearly shows that, even during the COVID pandemic, the Government of
Telangana, the LIC and the Agriculture Department, stood firmly by the side of
farming community, duly supporting the farmers to mitigate the risk and stress due to
the effects of COVID on the individual lives as well as on agricultural crop production.
The Mandal wise analysis shows that, the deaths are recorded more in the
headquarter mandal of Peddapalli, in all the financial years, with the Dharmaram
mandal standing second in the row of highest deaths. The analysis on implementation
fairly shows that, the Rythu Bima Scheme is successfully implemented in the state.
There were few challenges during the implementation of the scheme and these
challenges or constraints are mostly due to mismatch of data in the Aadhaar, Pattadar
passbook and / or the bank account details. Certain policy implications that can be
taken up for better service and implementation of this scheme suggested were, any
practising farmer up to the age of 65 to 70 years may be considered as eligible to avail
the Rythu Bima. An additional support in agricultural department crop subsidies,
empowerment etc., will help the retrieval of agricultural activities which becomes
passive after losing the main earning member of the family due to any mishap. The
cultivating tenant farmers and landless labourers should also be included into the
scheme, as they also suffer crop losses and face income stress and their bereaved
families also go through the distress situations similar to the eligible pattadar farmers.
There can be reduction of financial burden on the government if a “minimal premium
amount” be levied for all the eligible farmers to get enrolled into the scheme.