Mahatama Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana

DETAILS The Government of India introduced the “Bunkar Bima Yojana” in December 2003 which was a combination of “Janshree Bima Yojana” and the Add-on Group Insurance Scheme being implemented in collaboration with the Life Insurance Corporation of India. Since, 2005-06 this scheme has been implemented by the Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts Department of the Government of Odisha with the revised title “Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Yojana”. The basic objective is: to provide enhanced insurance coverage to the handloom weavers in the case of natural as well as accidental death and in cases of total or partial disability. The concerned handloom authority in the state will finalize the insurance coverage, as the Life Insurance Corporation of India administers the scheme. The State Governments and the State Handloom Corporations/Apex/Primary Handloom Weavers Cooperative Societies/Unions/ Associations shall be actively associated in the implementation of the scheme by way of sensitizing the handloom weavers to join the scheme through advertisements through print and other media. Premium Insurance Coverage: The annual total premium of ₹ 330/- per member will be shared as under: GOI contribution: ₹ 150/- Weavers’ contribution: ₹ 80/- LIC’s contribution: ₹ 100/- Operational Modalities: The scheme is renewable every year and continuation of coverage is ensured only on payment of premium on the due date of renewal every year. The premium amount shall be paid by the beneficiary only one-time for the whole year to the Life Insurance Corporation of India. The premium, once paid, shall not be refunded. Maximum number of renewals shall be effected each year. The insurance coverage is ordinarily effective only after receipt of the entire amount of premium i.e. both the Government’s as well as beneficiary’s share. In an unlikely situation where the Government’s share of the premium is not ready, the LIC shall accept the share of the beneficiary and affect the coverage accordingly. The office of the State Director-in-charge of Handlooms & Textiles and its subordinate offices in the field shall be the Nodal agencies for implementation of the scheme. Nodal agency will act for and on behalf of the insured members in all matters relating to the insurance cover. LIC will get in touch with State Directors In-charge of Handlooms for identification of beneficiaries, furnishing forms, instructions etc. for maximum coverage of weavers under the scheme. Release of Funds: For release of funds, LIC and the Authority In-charge of Handlooms in the State shall identify the weavers to be covered under the MGBBY. The Central Government share of the premium will be released directly to the LIC. Monitoring And Evaluation: Monitoring and evaluation of the progress of the Scheme will be done by the State Governments, which will submit quarterly physical and financial progress reports to the Development Commissioner for Handlooms. BENEFITS This scheme provide insurance coverage to handloom weavers as under: In the event of the natural death of the weaver, a Sum Assured of ₹ 60,000 will become payable to the nominee. In the cause of Accidental Death or Total Permanent Disability, a Sum Assured of ₹ 1,50,000/- will become payable to the nominee. In case of Partial Disability, a Sum Assured of ₹ 75,000/- will become payable. The scheme also provides scholarship to the children of parents who are covered under it under “Shiksha Sahyog Yojana”. A scholarship of ₹ 600/- per six month per child is to be paid to students studying is standard IX to XII for a maximum period of four years or till they complete XII standard, whichever event occurs earlier. ELIGIBILITY The weaver should be earning at least 50% of his income from handloom weaving. All weavers, whether male or female, between the age group of 18 and 59 years are eligible to be covered under the scheme, including minorities, women weavers, and weavers belonging to NER. The weavers belonging to the State Handloom Development Corporations/Apex/ Primary Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Societies will be covered under the Scheme. Weavers outside co-operative can also be covered under the scheme on a certificate from the State Directorate of Handlooms that they are fulfilling the eligibility conditions. The children of weavers who are covered under “Shiksha Sahyog Yojana” will also be eligible for scholarship and the benefit of scholarship is restricted to two children of the member covered. Both the children irrespective of gender based discrimination will be covered for scholarship. NOTE: It will be the responsibility of the State Director in charge of Handlooms to verify the eligibility of the weavers who are proposed to be covered under the scheme.