The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Insurance claims under scanner

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 06, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Insurance claims under scanner

Ravi Reddy

Survey to find reasons for deaths among productive age group

Scheme launched to cover landless farm labour & families
Claims made by kin of deceased in the age-group of 18-40

HYDERABAD: A significant achievement of the government in bringing 80 lakh landless agricultural poor under the comprehensive insurance cover is slowly turning into a cause of worry with rising insurance claims by families of the policy-holders in 18-40 years age group.

This phenomenon has prompted the government to commission a survey to find reasons for deaths among the productive age group. While the general death rate, according to the insurance officials, being six per thousand, in several districts it was found to be any where between 8 and 12 per cent.

The government had launched the Indira Jeevitha Bima Pathakam (Aam Admi Bima Yojana), Janasri Bima Yojana and other group insurance schemes bringing an overwhelming number of landless agricultural labour and their families under the social security network. The largely successful self-help groups shouldered the responsibility of implementing the scheme brought to them by the Life Insurance Corporation.

‘Cause for concern’

According to P. Chinnatathaiah, Regional Project Director (Insurance), Indira Kranti Patham, a total of 51,000 claims have been made since the launch of the scheme. Of this, 37,587 death claims are from the AABY scheme. What is surprising is the fact that a whopping 15,771 claims were made for deceased aged between 18-40 years for AABY alone. “The scheme is a blessing in disguise for the poor. But, claims from the families of young people is a cause for concern,” he said.

Study reports

Vasudevan, Project Director, Vizianagaram District Rural Development Agency, said two separate studies done by the Community Medicine department of Maharaja Institute of Medical Sciences, Viziangaram, and the District Medical and Health department showed that a majority of deaths of youngsters were caused due to addiction to alcohol, consumption of tobacco products, erratic lifestyle and malnutrition.

Armed with the findings, the government has set its eyes on finding a remedy.

T. Vijay Kumar, CEO, Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty, said SHGs would be roped in to create awareness among people about ill-effects of alcohol and tobacco.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh