Vets on stir, Kamdhenu scheme hits roadblock

Jaipur: Rajasthan government’s flagship insurance scheme for bovines, Mukhymantri Kamdhenu Pashu Bima Yojana, has been stopped even before it could start by veterinary doctors who announced its boycott on the very day it was launched nearly three weeks ago.Officials say that complaints from cattle owners are pouring in on the chief minister’s helpline 181 as they are unable to avail of any benefit under the scheme.“Not a single animal insurance policy has been issued from September 6, the day the Kamdhenu scheme was launched, due to the boycott of the scheme on a call jointly made by the veterinary doctors’ association and pashuchikitsak sangh. The animal insurance guarantee card is carried by cattle owners on the animal’s death to the nearest veterinary hospital, but the veterinary doctors are on mass leave as part of a statewide strike since September 18,” an official said.Suresh Gujjar, a cattle owner from Churu, said that he recently lost his animal but the veterinary doctor did not give him the death certificate. “The scheme is useless if beneficiaries cannot avail of it. I have two more cattle which are not in good health and I am worried over them now,” he said.Gulab Gujjar, 82, a resident of Shastri Nagar, said that if the insurance scheme does not work, he will have to face financial problems. “I don't own any farmland; the animals are all I have. It will be better if the government resolves the matter,” he said.CM Ashok Gehlot in his budget speech this year had announced the free animal insurance scheme for two animals per cattle-owning family. The scheme was a major attraction at the state government’s mehangai rahat camps where cattle owners could register for it. A total of 1.10 crore families had registered for the scheme at the camps. The finance department announced a provision of Rs 750 crore annually, with insurance cover for 80 lakh animals.Veterinarians are boycotting the scheme over not getting non-practice allowance (NPA). They say that their duties have increased without any additional pay. Even 12.47 lakh cattle of the government’s own cow-welfare department are dependent on veterinarians of the animal husbandry department.

Farmers hold stir, say Centres crop insurance scheme useless

Farmers in Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts of Jaipur held protests demanding full compensation for crop damage caused by rain. They claim that the central government's crop insurance scheme is ineffective and does not benefit them. The farmers also allege that they were given adulterated BT Cotton seeds, resulting in plant infections. Agriculture department officials stated that changes to the scheme can only be made by the central government. In Tamil Nadu, a plea has been filed to implement the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) crop insurance scheme throughout the year. Farmers in Rajasthan are facing difficulties in obtaining compensation under the PMFBY scheme for their damaged crops. The agricultural department in Jaipur has requested insurance companies to assess crop damage caused by recent rainfall.

Congress to give guarantees for welfare schemes

The Congress manifesto in Jaipur will include time-bound guarantees for public welfare schemes. The party believes that these guarantees will help them reach the people more effectively. The manifesto committee has also decided to focus on social security as a key area. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has also expressed his commitment to providing guarantees instead of announcing new schemes, with social security being his top priority. The party aims to fulfill the promises made in their last manifesto, of which 94 percent have already been achieved.