Two schemes that provide Gram Panchayats with both accidental and life insurance coverage

Bengaluru: Poor health insurance penetration is blamed for the majority of Indians in the countryside being unable to access proper healthcare. Christ University recently launched a campaign to facilitate access to health insurance for rural masses living in the hinterland of Bengaluru Urban district.

The Suvarna Karnataka Insurance Bruhat Abhinaya (SKIBA), the campaign of Christ University’s 'Suraksha Chakra Initiative', a diversity and social inclusion endeavour in nation building, was launched at the varsity campus on Friday.

SKIBA seeks to spread awareness among rural masses in Karnataka and get proactively involved in facilitating their enrolment of various govt health insurance schemes like such as the PMJJBY (Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyothi Bima Yojana) and the PMSBY (Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana). “Health Insurance is lacking and there seems to be a trust deficit – we aim to insure people in 84 Gram Panchayats in Bengaluru Urban district,” said Prof Jossy Peter, the insurance coordinator, during the campaign launch. The Bengaluru Urban Zilla Panchayat and Canara Bank have joined hands with the university in the campaign.

The inauguration also worked as a training session for one representative from each of the participant 84 GPs. The GP representatives were briefed on the various health, life and accidental death insurances.

PMJJBY is a government sponsored life insurance scheme that offers a death benefit of up to Rs 2 Lakh on an annual premium of Rs.436. PMSBY is also a government sponsored insurance scheme that offers Accidental Death and Disability Benefit to an individual who pays an annual premium of Rs.20 and provides for accidental benefit of up to Rs 2 lakh.

Dr Fr Jose C C, Vice Chancellor, Christ University, Dr Devi Shetty, Founder and Chairman of Narayana Health, Suresh Nair, General Manager, IRDAI and Bhaskara Chakravarthy, Convenor SLBC for Karnataka, were present on the occasion.

Dr Fr Jose C C, Vice Chancellor, Christ University, unveiled the report of the Marasuru Gram Panchayat, the first Gram Panchayat to be fully insured in Karnataka under Suraksha Chakra, the pan-India initiative of Christ University. The program was followed by a round table meeting attended by all the stakeholders and student-led brainstorming sessions with the participating Gram Panchayats.

Dr Biju Toms, Director of the School of Commerce, Finance and Accountancy, urged all participants to collaborate wholeheartedly and pursue the shared goal with dedication and accomplish the target before the Calendar year.