Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 24: Four companies have shown interest in providing life insurance cover to 33,835 Sarpanchs and Panchs in Jammu and Kashmir and a committee is being constituted within next some days to scrutinize the proposals of these insurance companies.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that four companies, which include Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) and New India Assurance, have responded to the Expression of Interest invited by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj on January 13, 2013 for covering the life insurance of elected Panchayati Raj representatives-Sarpanchs and Panchs. The last date of the Expression of Interest was January 21, 2013.
Stating that group insurance is being contemplated in order to cover risk of life due to militancy related incidents, sources said, “as per the Government plans the insurance will cover the period from the date of issuance of the policy till the end of the present tenure of Panchayats in 2016”, adding “the Government wants the companies to be willing to share the profits, accrued if any, with the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj”.
“Now the proposals of these four companies would be put to scrutiny by a committee, which is going to be constituted by the State Government within next few days”, sources said while disclosing that Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department has forwarded a detailed note to the Chief Secretary in this regard.
Responding to a question, sources said, “after deeply analyzing the proposals of these companies the Government would float tenders for providing life insurance to 4128 Sarpanchs and 29707 Panchs and then enter into negotiation with the selected one”.
“The Chief Minister, who is very keen to immediately complete the task of providing life insurance cover to the Panchs and Sarpanchs, has issued clear directions to the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department to ensure that only that company is given the task which gives guarantee for early disposal of the claims in case of any untoward incident with the lives of Sarpanchs and Panchs due to militancy”.
Sources said that since such life insurance cover has not been provided anywhere in the country till date, the selected company will have to prepare special product for the Panchs and Sarpanchs. “Keeping in view the interest being taken by the Chief Minister in translating his announcement into reality, the entire exercise is likely to be completed before the end of current financial year—March ending”, they added.
It is pertinent to mention here that some elected Panchayati Raj representatives have already fallen prey to the bullets of militants while as several others have resigned due to threat to their lives from the militants.
Responding to another question, sources said, “insurance cover is one of the components of the security of Panchayat members. Contrary to the reaction to this move of the Government from some quarters, it must be kept in mind that it would be for the first time in the country that life insurance cover is being provided to Panchs and Sarpanchs”.
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