Efforts made by Chief Minister Hemant Soren to empower the villagers are now paying off. More than 13,000 women engaged in liquor manufacturing and sales have been given the opportunity to lead a dignified life through Phoolo Jhano Ashirwad Abhiyan. Besides that, the rural population of Jharkhand is now being covered under various government life Insurance schemes.
Due to the efforts of the Chief Minister, within a month, more than 25 lakh beneficiaries have been covered under different insurance schemes. Now, the government aims to cover additional 30 lakh new people under the scheme. Impressed by the Jharkhand model of the ‘Get Insured Campaign’, the central government has advised other states to work in this direction.
As per the directions of the Chief Minister, 7 August 2021 onwards the Rural Development Department has started the campaign to cover Sakhi Mandal Didis under various Insurance schemes on a priority basis . Social security for the members of Sakhi Mandal is being ensured through this campaign. So far, 25 lakh women have been insured through the campaign. This campaign is being run to protect the Didis of Sakhi Mandal from future risks, especially the risks associated with novel Coronavirus. Members of the Sakhi Mandal groups and their family members are being encouraged to get Life Insurance, Accident Insurance and Health Insurance.
The awareness campaign is being conducted through various IEC materials like leaflets, audio-visual material and radio. In the campaign, 1,600 Bank Sakhis, 16,500 rural women activists and 1,800 Financial Literacy Trainers are playing a leading role. 4,600 SHG members are working at the Gram Panchayat level to process the insurance work through special camps and door-to-door campaigns. Officials of JSLPS are working in coordination with the banks for the timely completion of insurance registration and insurance claim. So far, a total claim amount of Rs 3.30 Crore has been received by 165 Sakhi Mandal Didis. The Rural Development Department aims to cover 100 per cent of the SHG members under the insurance scheme.
“Our dedicated campaign to cover maximum people of the State under the insurance scheme has played an important role in ensuring social security rights. As per the instructions of the Chief Minister, the women members of Sakhi Mandal and their family members are being insured. The campaign is still progressing and it will run until we achieve 100 per cent coverage of SHG Didis. These insurance schemes will work as a protective shield for thousands of families in times of trouble, especially during times like these when we are facing a global pandemic. For any family affected by the pandemic or any fatal condition, insurance cover comes for immediate help and financial help,” said Dr Manish Ranjan, Secretary, Rural Development Department.
