Biometric e-KYC for crop insurance may force Latur farmers to visit centres in person

Latur: The government has been speaking of making the crop insurance application process easier for farmers and offering an online facility from home. But the new process has raised fears of difficulties for farmers. A notice about a major change has appeared on the crop insurance portal. It says farmers will now have to be present in person at the concerned centre for biometric e-KYC.

Fears are being voiced that this will cause major inconvenience, especially to elderly, disabled and sick farmers, and those in remote areas.

Until now, with online crop insurance filing available, farmers could apply from home or through a village service centre. If biometric e-KYC becomes mandatory, farmers will have to go to a centre themselves and give a thumb impression. This raises the question of how far the real aim of the digital facility will be met.

Many farmers in villages are elderly. Some find it hard even to walk, while others are unable to reach a centre because of illness or other reasons. If they are required to appear at a centre, filing for crop insurance will become a major ordeal for them.

Farmers will also have to bear the time and travel cost of going to service centres far from their villages. On one hand, the government announces Digital India, online services and taking schemes to farmers' doorsteps. On the other, such technical conditions will again make farmers run around offices and service centres. The question being asked is who will ultimately benefit from these digital facilities.

According to information on the Maharashtra government's crop insurance scheme for the 2026-27 rabi season, farmers can register through banks, representatives of insurance companies, the Crop Insurance app and common service centres. The agriculture department therefore needs to give an official clarification on whether every farmer must be present at a centre for biometric e-KYC.

Crop insurance is an important scheme linked to farmers' financial security. The administration should therefore take responsibility that no farmer is denied insurance cover because of technical problems, lack of internet, a faulty biometric machine or physical incapacity. It is being suggested that, instead of calling farmers to centres, special village-level camps, a mobile e-KYC arrangement and alternative verification are needed.

If that does not happen, the crop insurance scheme, started for farmers' convenience, could become a headache for them. It is hoped that the administration will make the scheme simpler rather than entangle farmers in paperwork, technical conditions and procedures.