NT Reporter
Panaji
The Agriculture Directorate has decided to implement the central Kera Suraksha Insurance scheme for workers and labourers engaged in coconut farms, including those performing high-risk activities such as coconut tree climbing, neero/sur (toddy) tapping, nut harvesting, hybridisation and other essential
farm operations.
The scheme is being implemented by the Coconut Development Board, a statutory organisation under the Union agriculture ministry, in association with New India Assurance
Company Ltd.
The Board provides the accidental insurance coverage of maximum of Rs 7 lakh to these workers and labourers engaged in coconut farms.
The scheme also covers workers and labourers involved in coconut peeling and de-shelling, whether on-farm or in small-scale coconut-based units.
The comprehensive group, personal accident insurance scheme is implemented for coconut pluckers with a premium of Rs 956 or as fixed by the Coconut Development Board, which is shared between the Board and the beneficiary i.e. coconut plucker in the ratio of 85:15 per cent.
At present, the beneficiary has to bear Rs 143 as the beneficiary share and the balance
Rs 813 is borne by the Board.
A notification issued by agriculture director Sandeep Fol Dessai stated that in spite of promoting the scheme through various forums, traditional coconut pluckers are hesitant to take up the insurance scheme.
“It is therefore decided to insure all the workers/labourers engaged in coconut farms, including those performing high-risk activities such as coconut tree climbing, neera tapping, coconut harvesting, hybridisation and other essential farm operations.
It also includes workers/labourers involved in coconut peeling and de-shelling, whether on-farm or in small-scale coconut based industries under the ‘Kera Suraksha Insurance’ Scheme from 2025-26 onwards,” a notification stated.
It has proposed to cover 1000 coconut pluckers every year with a financial outlay of Rs 1.43 lakh annually.
