(a) whether any complaint has been received against insurance companies in regard
to defrauding the farmers in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years and the current year,
State/UT-wise including Rajasthan;
(c) whether the Government/Insurance Regulatory Development Authority(IRDA) has
conducted any inquiry in this regard;
(d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
(e) the action taken/proposed to be taken against companies in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)
(a)to (e) Ministry of Agriculture has informed that a complaint has been received
about manipulation/irregularity in enrollment of farmers in Hanumangarh District of
Rajasthan by ICICI-Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd. during Rabi 2010-11. The State
Government has reported that out of 8272 insured farmers, the claims of 5509 were
found to be correct while 381 farmers were not aware about insurance of their crops
during Rabi 2010-11. The State Government and the implementing agency were requested
to take action to settle the claims of 5509 farmers which were found correct at the
time of physical verification, re-verify the claims of the remaining farmers, fix
responsibility for false insurance coverage of 381 farmers, and ensure immediate
return of premium subsidy by the insurance company in respect of the un-insured
farmers. Further, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) had received
a complaint relating to Weather Based Crop Insurance in Sri Ganganagar district of
Rajasthan alleging irregularities in insurance of Govt. sponsored “Weather Based Crop
Insurance Scheme (WBCIS)†by ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd. The IRDA conducted
an investigation and it was found that 2093 insured persons do not exist at the address
provided for insurance. Based on the directions of Government of Rajasthan, Insurance
Company settled all claims and also published a notice in a local newspaper.