Association calls for life insurance, pension scheme for farmers, farm labourers

TIRUCHI The Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association has urged the Centre to introduce a separate life insurance scheme for farmers and farm labourers in view of the occupational hazards faced by them. “Farmers and agricultural labourers engaged in agricultural work face loss of life or permanent disability due to various natural hazards including extreme weather conditions and attacks by wild animals and snake bites.

They are also frequently involved in accidents, including those involving agricultural machinery, besides lightning strikes, electric shocks, etc. Hence, a new scheme called the Prime Minister’s Farmers’ Life Insurance Scheme should be introduced on the lines of a medical insurance scheme to protect farmers and agricultural labourers affected by these permanent disability,” said Swamimalai Sundara Vimalnathan, secretary of the association, said in a representation addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Calling for introduction of the scheme in the forthcoming budget of the Union government, Mr.