Health insurance policy for handicraft artisans

03 Apr '07

2 min read

Union Ministry of Textiles, in association with ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited, 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. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Shri Sanjay Agarwal, IAS, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) and Shri K. Bharathan, Country Head –Government Solutions Group, ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co Ltd.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Shankarsinh 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 50,000 artisans in the first 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 and his/her spouse and two children.

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. Bharathan K, Head - Government Solutions & Liabilities Insurance Group, ICICI Lombard said, 'Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojna offers the benefit of providing comprehensive cover to the artisans and also his family against unforeseen medical expenses.'

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