PM ANNOUNCES INSURANCE SCHEME FOR KHADI ARTISANS
A&RI MINISTER PRESENTS LIC POLICIES
TO ARTISANS
The Minister of State
for Agro and Rural Industries, Shri Sangh Priya Gautam presented
LIC Policies to a group of 20 Khadi artisans who represent various
parts of the country, soon after the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri
Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced the launching of Group Insurance
Scheme (Janashree Bima Yojana) for Khadi artisans, on the occasion
of 57th Independence Day, here today. The Group Insurance
Scheme will be operated by the LIC and provide insurance to Khadi
artisans in the case of death/disability. Addressing a gathering
on the occasion, Shri Gautam appealed the people to buy Khadi
products so that more rural industries are set up and generate
employment opportunities. He appreciated the Khadi artisans for
their hardship and dedication to preserve the art and cultural
heritage of our country.
Under the scheme,
risk cover for Khadi workers in case of death due to accident,
an amount of Rs. 50.000/- will be payable. In case of permanent
disability (loss of two eyes/limbs of use) due to accident, Rs.
50,000/- is payable, in the case of partial disability Rs. 25,000/-
will be paid and in case of natural death, Rs. 20,000/- would
be paid to the beneficiary. The scheme comes into force from 15th
August, 2003, for four successive years of the 10th
Plan period i.e. 2003-04 to 2006-07.
Speaking on the
occasion, the Chairman of KVIC, Dr. Mahesh Sharma said that KVIC,
under its Rural Employment Generation Scheme (REGP), has provided
18 lakh employment during the last five years. He said the Khadi
workers are playing an important role in the development of national
economy and there is an urgent need to recognize their skills.
The financial cost
of the insurance cover would be Rs. 200/- per Khadi worker per
annum. Out of which Social Security Fund will be Rs. 100/-, contribution
from Khadi Institution will be Rs. 50/- and Rs. 25/- each from
Khadi Artisan and KVIC/Govt. of India. Besides this, LIC’s Shiksha
Sahyog Yojna would be added benefit to the insurer without extra
premium under the scheme. This benefit would provide Rs. 1200/-
per annum for the education of two children of the Khadi workers
from class IX to XII.
Shri S.K.Tuteja,
Secretary, Ministries of Small Scale Industries and Agro &
Rural Industries, who was also present on the occasion said that
the KVIC has a unique capacity to generate large employment opportunities
and the backbone of this sector is provided by a strong work force
of local artisans/spinners, mostly from the weaker sections of
the society. He congratulated KVIC and LIC for their endavours
to implement the scheme.
Shri Chinmaya Vasu,
CEO of KVIC, presented a cheque of Rs.1,16,35,000 to Shri R.K.Vasisht,
the Manging Director of LIC for the successful implementation
of the Group Insurance Scheme for Khadi artisans which will benefit
1,16,000 artisnas in the first phase.
