PMFBY revamp to stop profiteering by insurers, pool to handle premiums
As part of the revamp, official sources said an alternate model is being considered by the Finance Ministry under which a pool or a trust would be created for managing the premium money with insurers provided by the Centre, the state governments and the farmers.
The government may undertake a major revamp of its flagship crop insurance scheme - the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) - to ensure timely relief for farmers and prevent insurers from profiteering. While the changes would ensure that the true spirit of the scheme to provide relief to farmers from weather-induced crop damage remains intact, it would make the PMFBY less attractive for private insurers who may be left with just charging administration fee to run the pan-Indian scheme.
As part of the revamp, official sources said an alternate model is being considered by the Finance Ministry under which a pool or a trust would be created for managing the premium money with insurers provided by the Centre, the state governments and the farmers. Whenever a claim arises from farmers, settlement will be done by individual insurance company running the scheme by drawing money from the pool.
The pool itself may be managed by state-owned entities with the Agriculture Insurance Co of India Ltd (AICL) as the nodal body and the GIC as the pool manager. The AICL would also design the scheme and do pricing of the product along with actuarial experts selected by the states. The product may also be customized as per local needs.
Besides decision of claim payment would also rest with the AICL and the state government with role of insurance company being limited to enrolments, awareness generation and management of claim payments for a fixed administration fee.
"This model would eliminate discretionary powers with the insurers, particularly private ones, over settlements as their role would be limited. This would also prevent profiteering by insurers enable farmers with adequate and timely settlement of claims," said a government official privy to the development.
Under the scheme, farmers pay between 1.5-2 per cent of the insurance premium while the rest is paid equally by the Central and state governments. The entire premium money rests with the insurers.
The PMFBY was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016 following consecutive years of deficit rains. Ever since the launch, the scheme has been mired with issues. The scheme has also seen a sharp 15.5 per cent decline in enrolments, which fell from 5.73 crore in 2016-17 to 4.84 crore in 2017-18.
However, despite lower enrolments, the premium collected by insurance companies - shared by farmers, Central and state governments - shot up by 11.5 per cent from Rs 22,589 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 25,178 crore in 2017-18 as per official data.
In contrast, the claims paid by insurers have remained low with claim settlement at Rs 17,992 crore in FY18. Sources said that profits under the scheme has soared to over Rs 9,000 crore for insurers.
Faced with a sharp decline in enrolment for the crop insurance scheme, the Centre last year also imposed a 12 per cent penalty on insurance companies for delayed settlement of claims.
Among the other suggestions given to the Finance Ministry for the PMFBY revamp is to offer the GIC the role of managing the premium pool. Moreover, excess of loss reinsurance protection may be taken on the pool above the amount of Rs 20,000 crore to prevent against catastrophic losses.
Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Retirement Planning: SIP+SWP combination; Rs 15,000 monthly SIP for 25 years and then Rs 1,52,000 monthly income for 30 years
Top Gold ETF vs Top Large Cap Mutual Fund 10-year Return Calculator: Which has given higher return on Rs 11 lakh investment; see calculations
Retirement Calculator: 40 years of age, Rs 50,000 monthly expenses; what should be retirement corpus and monthly investment
SBI 444-day FD vs Union Bank of India 333-day FD: Know maturity amount on Rs 4 lakh and Rs 8 lakh investments for general and senior citizens
EPF vs SIP vs PPF Calculator: Rs 12,000 monthly investment for 30 years; which can create highest retirement corpus
Home loan EMI vs Mutual Fund SIP Calculator: Rs 70 lakh home loan EMI for 20 years or SIP equal to EMI for 10 years; which can be easier route to buy home; know maths
11:05 PM IST