The banks and general insurance agencies implementing the Jan Suraksha schemes that were launched on Saturday have the challenging task of bringing people in the unorganised sector under insurance cover.
The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) provide accidental insurance worth Rs. 2 lakh at Rs. 12 per annum, and life insurance worth Rs. 2 lakh at Rs. 330 per annum respectively. The schemes are particularly for people in the unorganised sector. However, it is also open to all SB account holders irrespective of their economic status.
There are nearly 8 lakh savings bank accounts in the district with a population of nearly 30 lakh and every family has been financially included under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana under which over 2.7 lakh SB accounts were opened in the district. However, there was no transaction made in 65 per cent of them, and enrolment in the insurance schemes will activate them once again as premium will be deducted from the account holder’s savings bank account through auto-debit facility. The district has a large rural hinterland where agriculture is the primary occupation and supports lakhs of people most of whom are landless agricultural labourers dependent on daily wages. While the government welfare schemes like Anna Bhagya has ensured food security, insurance security was non-existent in the event of any eventuality and this has been addressed.
However, it has to be popularised through publicity campaigns that are already under way but the participating financial institutions intend to go on an overdrive from Monday.
“All the branches have put up banners and opened a dedicated counter to promote the product among the customers. Hand bills and brochures are being distributed while public announcements will be made to create greater public awareness about the benefits of the product”, said K.N. Shivalingaiah, Lead Bank Manager, State Bank of Mysore.
Good progress
He told The Hindu that services of the business correspondents operating in rural areas will be harnessed to reach out to the villages through gram panchayats in the district. But the relentless publicity campaign launched during the last few days has generated sufficient interest in the products and the State Bank of Mysore alone has enrolled 1.32 lakh account holders for the new insurance schemes since May 1 from the time the policies were introduced (though officially launched on Saturday). Similarly, Cauvery Grameena Bank has enrolled nearly 80,000 people under the scheme so far.
