Union Min of Textiles unveils health insurance policy

Office of the Development Commissioner-Handicraft, Ministry of Textiles, in association with ICICI Lombard, India’s largest private sector General Insurance Company has launched a comprehensive health insurance scheme for the handicraft artisans across the country. The scheme christened as 'Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana' would be the first ever health insurance initiative for the artisans in the country. 

Speaking on the inauguration of the health camp at Moradabad, Shri Shankar Singh Vaghela, Union Minister for Textiles, Government of India, said, "This unique insurance scheme will benefit the large section of the artisan population and aims at covering about 8.82 lakh artisan’s family in the second phase."

'Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojna' is envisaged to financially enable the artisans' community to access the best of healthcare facilities in the country. This scheme will cover the artisans, his/her spouse and two children/dependants/parents. 

Shri Sanjay Agarwal, IAS, Development Commissioner highlighted the main features of the scheme. He also stated that this scheme would help pursue the larger objective of improving the plight of the artisans in a multi-dimensional manner.  

Mr. Sanjay Pande, Head – Financial Inclusions Solutions Group, ICICI Lombard said, “We are committed to the welfare of the masses, Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana is one such initiative, which provides health insurance to the artisan and his family. We have also equipped ourselves with an extensive customer service network to cater them.”

ICICI Lombard’s health cover offers comprehensive pre and post hospitalization expenses along with 505 cashless OPD clinic facilities available in 1700 hospitals across the country, also, it covers personal accident for primary members as well as all pre-existing diseases, new diseases, maternity benefits (per child for the first two), dental treatment, eye treatment, spectacles and domiciliary hospitalization, Ayurvedic / Unani / Homeopathic / Siddha subjected to the prescribed limit.

Handicrafts constitute an important segment of the decentralized/unorganized sector of our economy. Started as a part time activity in rural areas, it has now transformed into a flourishing economic activity due to significant market demand over the year. Handicrafts have huge potential as they hold the key for sustaining not only the existing set of millions of artisans spread over length and breadth of the country, but also to the increasingly large number of new entrants in the crafts activity. Presently, handicrafts are contributing substantially in employment generation and export. In order to address the welfare needs in terms of health & dwelling insurance, this scheme is expected to benefit the handicraft artisans immensely.

Sourced From: Sampark Public Relations Pvt Ltd