SARATHI Portal

 

• The Indian government has launched the SARATHI portal to assist insurance companies in reaching out to farmers and rural populations with tailored insurance products, including the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

What is SARATHI Portal?

• The SARATHI portal, or Sandbox for Agriculture, Rural Security, Technology, and Insurance, aims to simplify the insurance process for farmers by providing a digitized insurance journey.
• It offers a single-window platform for viewing, purchasing, and availing insurance products, with digital payment options and streamlined premium collection.
• The platform will introduce a range of insurance products gradually, starting with personal accident and hospital cash policies, followed by health, shop, home, tractor, two-wheeler, livestock, and non-PMFBY insurance products.
• The Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline will act as a facilitator between insured farmers, insurance companies, bankers, Common Service Centres (CSCs), and state governments, enabling farmers to register complaints for redressal.

PM Fasal Bima Yojana

• Launched in 2016, It is in line with the One Nation – One Scheme theme- It replaced National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS).
• All food & oilseed crops and annual commercial/horticultural crops for which past yield data is available are covered under this scheme.
• The prescribed premium is 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 1.5% for all rabi crops. In the case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium is 5%.
• Objectives of the Scheme :

• To provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crops as a result of natural calamities, pests & diseases.
• To stabilise the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming.
• To encourage farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices.
• To ensure flow of credit to the agriculture sector.

Practice Questions for Prelims
Consider the following statements regarding SARATHI Portal :

1. The portal aims to provide insurance products to farmers and rural populations.
2. Insurance products under PM Fasal Bima Yojana are not covered under this portal.

Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans. a)

Mains Practice Question

Assess the usability of SARATHI portal recently launched by the government with special focus on PM Fasal Bima Yojana.

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