Chandigarh-
Congress MP Selja demands time-bound inquiry, statewide audit and strict action after alleged insurance claims were processed in the names of deceased farmers; says the scandal raises serious questions over administrative accountability and public welfare schemes
Chandigarh | Pen of Democracy News Desk
Congress MP from Sirsa and former Union Minister Kumari Selja on Sunday alleged that the reported crop insurance fraud involving deceased farmers in Haryana represents a “serious betrayal” of both the farming community and the administrative system. Calling the allegations deeply disturbing, she demanded a high-level independent investigation, a statewide audit of crop insurance claims and strict legal action against everyone found responsible. Referring to recent media reports, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) member alleged that crop insurance claims worth crores of rupees were processed in the names of deceased farmers in Hisar district through the alleged involvement of Common Service Centre (CSC) operators, village numberdars, insurance agents and certain Agriculture Department officials. “If government records can be manipulated to project deceased farmers as living beneficiaries, it reflects a grave failure of administrative oversight. Such allegations strike at the credibility of institutions responsible for implementing public welfare schemes,” Selja said.The Congress leader alleged that the reported irregularities point to systemic weaknesses in the implementation and monitoring of government schemes. She said any programme designed to provide financial security to farmers must function with complete transparency, accountability and effective oversight. Selja further claimed that the latest controversy adds to a series of issues that have surfaced in Haryana in recent years. She referred to reported banking irregularities, paddy procurement and payment-related complaints, alleged financial discrepancies in various government departments and concerns raised over development works in Sirsa’s Govind Nagar area. Highlighting the challenges faced by the farming community, Selja said farmers are already struggling with rising input costs, unpredictable weather conditions and declining returns. She argued that if a scheme intended to protect cultivators is allegedly misused through fraudulent claims, it amounts to a serious injustice to genuine beneficiaries. She also questioned how the alleged irregularities could have continued for years without being detected, saying the matter warrants an impartial and comprehensive investigation to establish accountability. Demanding immediate action, Selja called for a time-bound independent inquiry into the alleged fraud, strict legal proceedings against every individual found responsible—including officials, CSC operators and insurance agents—and a special statewide audit of crop insurance claims to determine whether similar irregularities exist in other districts of Haryana. “The government must move beyond rhetoric on corruption and ensure accountability through concrete action. Farmers and the people of Haryana deserve to know whether public welfare schemes are being implemented honestly and whether adequate safeguards exist to prevent their alleged misuse,” she said. Selja maintained that public confidence in government welfare programmes can be restored only through transparent investigations, institutional accountability and prompt corrective measures wherever irregularities are found.
