Date:17/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/09/17/stories/2007091750290500.htm

Back Govt may extend personal risk cover scheme to spices sector

L.N. Revathy

Coonoor, Sept. 16 The Centre is contemplating to extend the Personal Accident Insurance Scheme, which is available for the small growers to the spices sector as well.

Speaking at the 114th United Planters’ Association of Southern India technical session, Mr Amit Chatterjee, CEO, Price Stabilisation Fund Trust (PSFT), Ministry of Commerce, said a large chunk of the plantation crop area would be covered with the inclusion of the spices sector.

An estimated 62 lakh (tea, coffee, rubber and tobacco) workers and growers are eligible for cover under this scheme, but less than 45,000 have been covered so far.

The scheme is available only to those with land holdings up to 4 hectares, and the limit has been enhanced to Rs 1 lakh from the earlier limit of Rs 25,000.

Asked about the response to the revised scheme, a PSFT source said the Cabinet had approved it only in March and had sought the Commodities Boards to act as drivers in enrolling workers. The one-time joining fee has been fixed at Rs 500. Mr Chatterjee indicated that the Government was proposing to reduce the enrolment charges further.

The ambit of the scheme is likely to be thrown open to growers with higher acreage, he said and hinted that a crop insurance scheme was also on the cards based on the Rangachary report.