Akshaya common service centres of the State IT Mission across Kerala will now sell general insurance policies and offer related services.
New India Assurance Company, one of the largest general insurance companies in the country, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State IT Mission to sell its general insurance policies through the 2,000-odd Akshaya service centres of the State’s e-governance project, so that more common services can be brought closer to the people.
The formal launch of the project was inaugurated by Minister for Industries and Information Technology P.K. Kunhalikutty here recntly.
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Launching the project, the Minister said the Akshaya centres were the pride of Kerala and it was now gaining international recognition because of its unique business model of allowing private entrepreneurs to run these e-centres to bring a multitude of government and other services to people.
From running e-literacy programmes to being a common citizen service centre that bridges various government departments and the common man, the Akshaya centres had succeeded in taking technology to the masses and making Kerala IT-ready, Mr. Kunhalikutty said.
Many more services will be provided through the Akshaya centres in the coming years, making Kerala one of the most efficient e-governed State in the country, on a par with the e-governance models of many developed nations, he added. The association between Akshaya centres and New India Assurance Company would ensure that the benefits of general insurance cover would reach more people, he said.
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Speaking on the occasion, chairman and managing director of New India Assurance Company G. Srinivasan said the Akshaya centres of Kerala were the answer to the challenges of taking the concept of insurance cover to the masses in a country where the penetration of general insurance was just 0.78 per cent of the GDP.
New India Assurance Company will sell its general insurance polices, including auto insurance policies for low-end commercial vehicles like autorickshaws, and offer the renewal of policies and all services other than claim settlement through the Akshaya centres. The company intended to sell micro insurance products to the rural community through Akshaya centres.