Is Bigger Better?
After successfully rechristening the Fasal Bima Yojna, the government has proposed an overhaul of the health insurance scheme.
Three years ago, the government launched a subsidised crop insurance policy to help farmers. The farmers now pay only a small 1.5 2 per cent of the sum assured for crops whereas the balance, the bulk of the premium, is shared equally by the Centre and state governments. The scheme has managed to provide an insurance cover of close to `2 lakh crore with premium outgo of `22,000 crore plus from the exchequer. Experts often criticise the crop insurance scheme, accusing private players of reaping
