Gujarat doubles farmer accident insurance cover

Gandhinagar Sep 20 (IANS) The Gujarat Government on Thursday doubled the personal accident insurance cover of farmers to Rs 2 lakh in case of death and from Rs 50 000 to Rs 1 lakh for physical impairment.
Announcing this Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel told reporters that "We have decided to double the insurance amount to Rs 2 lakh in case of a farmer s death as well as permanent and full disability."
"We have also decided to include children of the farmers as claimants which was earlier only the eldest son " Patel added.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the farmers who lost both their eyes or hands or legs or an eye and a limb used to get an assistance of Rs 1 lakh which would now be doubled to Rs 2 lakh.
"Earlier the farmers losing one hand or an eye used to get an assistance of Rs 50 000 will now get Rs 1 lakh " Nitin Patel said.
A total of 1.75 crore farmers are covered under this scheme. Now 73.25 lakh farmers will be added benefiting a total of 2.49 crore farmers he added.
The added burden of premium on the state exchequer after this would be Rs 70 crore.

--IANS desai/prs