3,910 farmers benefit under crop insurance scheme: CM

Puducherry, Apr 28 (UNI) As many as 3,910 farmers had benefitted under the crop insurance scheme here from 1999-2000 to 2005-06, Chief Minister N Rangasamy told the Legislative Assembly today.

Repying to a question, Mr Rangasamy said the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, taking into account the low harvest used to provide the compensation to the farmers.

The premium amount collected from the farmers towards the crop insurance to the tune of Rs.80,95,457 from 1999 to 2007 was sent to the ICAR by the respective banks themselves as there was no system of depositing it in the banks.

To a supplementary question, the Chief Minister said the government subsidy to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore for the scheme was deposited in the Puducherry State Cooperative Bank and the amount released when required.

To another question, the Chief Minister said the government had no intention to levy Entry Tax on readymade gold ornaments.

He said the issue was crosschecked with Tamil Nadu and no Entry Tax was being levied there also.

Under VAT, one per cent tax was being levied for readymade gold ornaments and four per cent on covering ornaments, he added.

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