Agriculture is the backbone of Rajasthan’s rural economy, and the livelihood of millions of families in the state depends solely on agricultural activities. Farmers and agricultural laborers continuously face occupational risks due to the hazardous nature of farming, the extensive use of machinery, exposure to wild animals, harsh weather, accidents during agricultural marketing, and frequent physical dangers in the field. To safeguard such individuals and to support families that suffer due to accidental death or disability, the Government of Rajasthan introduced a special social security scheme known as the Rajasthan Rajiv Gandhi Krishak Saathi Sahayata Yojana.
This comprehensive scheme provides financial assistance to farmers, agricultural laborers, hammals, porters, and individuals working in mandi premises in case of accidental death or injury. Over the years, the scheme has been refined to ensure maximum coverage, transparency, and effective disbursement of benefits.
This article provides a detailed overview of the scheme, covering its history, objectives, financial assistance structure, eligibility criteria, conditions under which assistance is applicable, types of documents required, offline and online application processes, helpline numbers, and important guidelines. The article is written in a clear, structured, and informative manner, following the standard format of a Yojana or government-scheme explainer.
Introduction to the Rajasthan Rajiv Gandhi Krishak Saathi Sahayata Yojana
The Rajasthan Rajiv Gandhi Krishak Saathi Sahayata Yojana is a state-run welfare programme designed to provide financial assistance in case a farmer or agricultural worker faces accidental death or disability during agricultural or agricultural-marketing activities. The scheme was launched with the primary vision of ensuring that farming families do not fall into severe financial distress due to unexpected tragedies. The government recognizes that agriculture is not just an occupation but a life-sustaining cycle for millions of rural households. Therefore, this scheme acts as a protective shield for those involved in critical agriculture-related work across the state.
The scheme is administered by the Rajasthan State Agricultural Marketing Board and is available to all eligible individuals aged between 14 and 75 years who are involved in agricultural labor, farming operations, or work within agricultural mandis.
History and Evolution of the Scheme
The scheme has gradually evolved to adapt to the changing needs of the agricultural community.
- It was originally launched on 30 August 1994 under the name Krishak Saathi Yojana by the Directorate of Agricultural Marketing.
- On 22 December 2004, the scheme was renamed Kisan Jeevan Kalyan Yojana, expanding its scope.
- On 9 December 2009, the scheme underwent restructuring and was renamed the Rajiv Gandhi Krishak Saathi Sahayata Yojana, which remains its present form.
Since then, the scheme has continued to support thousands of beneficiaries every year. Today, it is one of the most crucial social security programmes for agricultural workers in Rajasthan.
Objectives of the Scheme
The Rajasthan Rajiv Gandhi Krishak Saathi Sahayata Yojana has been launched with several key objectives:
- To provide financial support to the family in case of the accidental death of a farmer or agricultural worker.
- To support farmers and laborers who suffer permanent or partial disability due to accidents during agricultural operations.
- To offer financial relief in case of accidents involving agricultural machinery, tools, animals, or natural events.
- To cover accidents occurring in mandi premises, including handling, loading, and unloading agricultural produce.
- To ensure social and financial security for farmers and agricultural laborers.
- To reduce the hardship of families affected by tragic incidents during agricultural activities.
- To promote a safety network for individuals directly involved in agricultural or agriculture-related tasks.
The scheme ensures that unpredictable and unfortunate incidents do not push families into poverty or economic hardship.
Key Features of the Scheme
The scheme comes with several important features that make it highly beneficial and accessible to eligible individuals:
- Provides financial assistance ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹2,00,000, depending on the severity of injury or in case of death.
- Covers a wide range of agricultural and mandi-related accidents.
- Available to farmers, agricultural laborers, and mandi workers aged 14 to 75.
- Both online and offline application options are available.
- Assistance is provided within a fixed time frame after verification.
- Government departments including mandis and agricultural marketing boards coordinate for smooth implementation.
- Assistance is paid through bank cheque or demand draft, ensuring transparency.
This makes the scheme one of the most accessible and farmer-friendly programs in the state.
Detailed Financial Assistance Under the Scheme
The compensation provided under the scheme is based on the type and extent of injury or accident. The assistance amount is as follows:
1. Accidental Death
- ₹2,00,000 to the family of the deceased.
2. Major Disabilities
| Condition | Assistance Amount |
|---|---|
| Loss of both hands, both legs, both eyes, or loss of any one major limb | ₹50,000 |
| Brain injury causing coma or spinal cord fracture | ₹50,000 |
| Full scalp de-scalping | ₹40,000 |
| Partial scalp de-scalping | ₹25,000 |
3. Partial Disabilities and Injuries
| Type of Injury | Assistance Amount |
|---|---|
| Loss of one hand, one foot, eye, or major limb | ₹25,000 |
| Loss of four fingers | ₹20,000 |
| Loss of three fingers | ₹15,000 |
| Loss of two fingers | ₹10,000 |
| Loss of one finger | ₹5,000 |
4. Mandi-related Injuries
| Injury Type | Assistance Amount |
|---|---|
| Fracture sustained by hammal, laborer, or porter during agricultural marketing work in mandi | ₹10,000 |
5. Testicular Injuries
| Condition | Assistance Amount |
|---|---|
| Loss of one testicle | ₹25,000 |
| Loss of both testicles | ₹40,000 |
All payments are made through secure banking channels to ensure transparency and accuracy.
Eligibility Criteria
To receive benefits under the Rajasthan Rajiv Gandhi Krishak Saathi Sahayata Yojana, the applicant must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Must be a resident of Rajasthan.
- Age must be between 14 and 75 years.
- Must be one of the following:
- Farmer
- Agricultural laborer
- Person engaged in agriculture or agriculture-related tasks
- Hammal or porter working in mandi premises
- Worker involved in agricultural marketing processes
Applicants must also provide valid proof of identity and involvement in agricultural or mandi-related activities.
Situations in Which Assistance Is Provided
Financial assistance is only granted if the accident occurs during agricultural, agricultural-marketing, or related activities. These include:
- Accidents while using agricultural machinery (thrashers, cutters, tractors, etc.)
- Electrocution during tubewell operations or from electric wires passing over farms
- Injuries during pesticide or chemical spraying
- Injuries caused by wild animals, stray animals, or livestock while working in the field
- Accidents inside mandi premises during loading, unloading, or transporting produce
- Accidents due to tractor-trolley, bullock cart, camel cart, or similar vehicles inside mandis
- Road accidents while carrying agricultural produce to or from mandis
- Severe injuries such as de-scalping caused by farm machinery
- Lightning strikes during agricultural work
- Coma due to head injury during agricultural operations
- Spinal cord injuries resulting from farm-related work
- Accidents caused by falling trees during storms or cyclones while working in the field
- Drowning in farm ponds, tanks, or water storage structures
- Injuries while cutting crops, preparing fields, or during post-harvest operations
- Accidents while digging wells, installing tubewells, or repairing irrigation systems
The scheme covers a wide range of work-related accident scenarios, making it one of the most comprehensive agricultural welfare programs.
Situations in Which Assistance Is Not Provided
Assistance is not given under the following circumstances:
- Death or disability caused by natural illness
- Suicide
- Accidents under the influence of intoxicants
- Injury during medical treatment or surgery
- Road accidents caused by violation of traffic laws
- Pregnancy-related complications
- Death occurring more than 90 days after the accident due to unrelated causes
- Death caused by nuclear or atomic attacks
- Injuries or death caused due to involvement in war, riots, or anti-national activities
- Death or disability caused during illegal activities
These exclusions ensure that the scheme supports genuine agricultural and mandi-related accident cases.
Documents Required
For All Applicants
- Jan Aadhaar Card
- Bhamashah Card (if available)
- Aadhaar Card
- Bank Passbook
In Case of Death
- FIR
- Post-mortem report
- Death certificate
In Case of Injury
- Medical certificate issued by a Government or Registered Medical Practitioner
These documents ensure verification and authentication of claims.
Application Process
The government has provided both offline and online modes of applying for the scheme.
Offline Application Process
- Visit the nearest Mandi Committee office.
- Collect the application form for the Rajiv Gandhi Krishak Saathi Sahayata Yojana.
- Fill in all personal, accident, and bank-related details carefully.
- Attach all required documents.
- Submit the application at the Mandi Committee office.
- The committee will verify the details and forward the application to the Rajasthan State Agricultural Marketing Board.
- The concerned authorities will review the application thoroughly.
- A decision must be taken within one month from the submission date.
- If approved, the financial assistance will be issued within 15 days through cheque or demand draft.
The offline process is designed to support individuals with limited access to the internet.
Online Application Process Through the RajKisan Portal
- Visit the RajKisan portal of the Rajasthan Government.
- Select the Rajiv Gandhi Krishak Saathi Sahayata Yojana from the scheme list.
- Enter the Jan Aadhaar or Bhamashah number.
- Select the applicant’s name from the database.
- Verify the mobile number through OTP.
- The application form will appear on the screen.
- Fill in the required information such as:
- Applicant details
- Accident details
- Farmer or worker details
- Bank information
- Witness details
- Upload supporting documents such as certificates, ID proofs, FIR, medical reports, etc.
- Submit the form.
- Authorities will verify the application.
- Approval must be granted within one month.
- The assistance amount will be sent within 15 days after approval.
The online system ensures transparency and faster processing.
Important Guidelines for Applicants
- The application must be submitted within 6 months of the accident.
- Applications submitted after 6 months but within 15 months must include a valid explanation.
- Applications submitted after 15 months are not accepted under any circumstances.
- Individuals older than 75 years are not eligible.
- For snakebite or animal-bite cases, FIR is not compulsory if Panchanama and Doctor’s Certificate are available.
- All assistance is given via account-payee cheque or demand draft.
- Government doctors of Allopathy, Ayurveda, and Homeopathy are authorized for issuing certificates.
Following the guidelines ensures smooth and timely processing of claims.
