Thu Jul 24 21:40:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a rewritten version as a news article:
**Summary:**
The Bharatiya Jatana Party government in Rajasthan, India, is considering creating a “risk relief fund” for farmers to combat the high premiums and inadequate claim payouts associated with current crop insurance. The Minister of State for Cooperative, Gautam Kumar Dak, is seeking input from stakeholders to design an effective fund structure. The proposal aims to reduce the premium burden on farmers receiving crop loans, potentially setting a fixed premium rate of 1% of the loan amount. The government intends to register farmers both online and offline to facilitate access to the fund.
**News Article:**
**Rajasthan Considers “Risk Relief Fund” to Aid Farmers Battling High Crop Insurance Premiums**
**JAIPUR, July 25, 2025** – The Rajasthan government is exploring the establishment of a “risk relief fund” designed to ease the financial burden on farmers struggling with the high cost and perceived ineffectiveness of current crop insurance policies. The move comes amidst growing concerns that insurance companies are charging excessive premiums while providing inadequate compensation to farmers when claims are filed.
Gautam Kumar Dak, Minister of State for Cooperative, announced the initiative, emphasizing the need to protect farmers from what he termed the “arbitrariness” of insurance companies. He has called for a collaborative effort, soliciting suggestions from cooperative banks, agricultural societies, and other stakeholders to shape a robust and effective fund structure.
“We need practical solutions to ensure farmers receiving crop loans through our cooperative credit system are protected,” stated Mr. Dak. “The current premium burden is simply too high, and the claims process too often leaves farmers shortchanged.”
A key element of the proposed fund is a drastically reduced premium rate for farmers, potentially set at 1% of the loan amount. This represents a significant decrease from the current premium rates, which vary based on the farmer’s age and are often considered prohibitively expensive. The government also plans to implement a uniform premium rate for all age groups, streamlining the process and ensuring equitable access.
To facilitate access and transparency, the government intends to register farmers for the risk relief fund both online and offline. A meeting was held on July 24, 2025 including Principal Secretary (Cooperative) Maju Rajpal, Apex Cooperative Bank Managing Director Sanjay Pathak and elected representatives of cooperative societies, who attended the meeting, gave suggestions for effective operations and seamless functioning of the proposed fund.
The initiative signals the government’s commitment to supporting the agricultural sector and addressing the challenges faced by farmers in the region. The success of the “risk relief fund” will depend on the collaboration of all stakeholders and the implementation of a transparent and efficient system.
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