The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : New insurance scheme for weavers unveiled

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 16, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

New insurance scheme for weavers unveiled

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JUNE 15. The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today said that orders had been issued to replace the Self Insurance Scheme (SIS) with a new Bunkar Bima Yojana to be implemented in the State in association with the Life Insurance Corporation to benefit 75,565 handloom weavers. The new scheme would be introduced in the current financial year itself.

In a statement here, she said her government had been implementing various developmental and welfare schemes to provide continuous job opportunities and ensure considerable income for weavers.

As of now, the handloom weavers, rallying under the cooperatives were covered by the SIS with the State Government extending total financial assistance for it. Weavers in the cooperatives, who had been enrolled under the Savings and Security Scheme, were the eligible beneficiaries. Only in cases of natural death of a weaver before attaining 60 years, the nominee would get Rs.50,000 under the SIS, she said.

The State Government had decided to introduce the Bunkar Bima Yojana with additional benefits, Ms. Jayalalithaa said.

Under the new scheme, a total premium of Rs. 380 had to be remitted for each weaver. Of this, Rs.150 would be contributed by the Centre, the LIC would bear its share of Rs.100 and each weaver should pay Rs.130 per annum. But keeping the wellbeing of the weavers in mind, the State Government would remit the weavers' share of Rs.98.23 lakh at the rate of Rs.130 for each of the 75,565 weavers.

Under the Bunkar Bima Yojana, the next of kin of the weaver would get Rs.50,000 in case of natural death before attaining 60 years, Rs. 80,000 for death due to accident, Rs.50,000 for permanent disablement and Rs.25,000 for partial disablement, she said.

A maximum scholarship of Rs.300 per every three months would be given to each student of the weavers' families for four years from standard IX to Plus-Two under the scheme, Ms.Jayalalithaa said.

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