NABARD's new insurance scheme for farmers in Mizoram

AIZAWL, April 27? National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has been giving financial help to Self Help Groups and 1,094 Kisan Credit Cards with a loan component of Rs 55 lakh had been issued in Mizoram during the last fiscal, reports PTI. Dr S D Kulkarni, Deputy General Manager of NABARD regional office here told media persons Friday that a new insurance scheme for the farmers who were holding Kisan Credit Cards has been formulated. Kulkarni said that Rs 9.48 crore had been disbursed through refinancing in the fields of rural housing, road transport, piggery, plantation and horticulture, village and cottage industries, fisheries and poultry the last financial year. He also said that sanctions to the tune of Rs 54.20 crore has been accorded to the State government for implementation of projects like minor irrigation, road and health which included installation of central medical gas pipe system and CT scan unit at Civil Hospital, Aizawl. ?NABARD provided financial assistance in the health sector only in Mizoram and nowhere else in the country, which included establishments of primary health care unit, health sub centres and primary health centres in remote areas,? he said. Two drinking water projects costing more than Rs 500 lakh have been taken up through financial assistance from NABARD at Vairengte and Bilkhawthlir villages, he said. NABARD has been satisfied with the implementation of the projects by the State government, he said, adding there was an increase by 42 per cent in the last fiscal comparing to funding of projects in the State by NABARD during 2000-2001.