Himachal offers insurance scheme for handicraft weavers

A Spokesman of the State Government said here today that State Government was implementing various Central and State sponsored Schemes for the welfare of handicraft weavers. He said that Industries Department was implementing 'Handicraft Weavers Comprehensive Welfare Scheme' aimed at providing insurance cover with enhanced insurance benefits, besides, better health facilities to handicraft weavers. He said that two components of the scheme were Health Insurance Scheme and Mahatma Gandhi Weavers Insurance Scheme.

The Spokesman said that the main objective of Health Insurance Scheme was to make the weaver community economically self-reliant, besides, providing them better medical facilities. He said that the scheme would also cover wife and two children, besides, the weaver and those who would avail the scheme have to deposit Rs. 69.56 premium every year. He said that those weavers who have atleast 50 percent income from handicraft weaving were eligible to avail the benefits of the scheme.

He said that the scheme would be implemented through ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd. and added that interested persons could contact the company on telephone numbers 0177-2628902 or 98166-47379. He said that concerned Coordinator of the Company would deposit the premium amount alongwith the nomination forms of the beneficiaries in the office of General Manager, District Industries Centre. He said that the medical treatment expenses of the weavers under the scheme would be paid/reimbursed by the ICICI Lombard and added that the annual limit of availing medical assistance under the scheme would be Rs. 15,000 per family.

The Spokesman further said that the main objective of Mahatma Gandhi Weavers Insurance Scheme was to provide enhanced insurance cover and medical insurance to weavers not only in case of natural death but also during death by accident, complete or partial disability. He said that those male and female weavers who have an income of atleast 50 per cent from handicraft weaving and were between 18 to 59 years of age were eligible to avail the benefits of the scheme.

He said that the beneficiaries of the scheme have to deposit annual premium of Rs. 80 and added that the scheme was being implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India. He said that interested persons could contact the office of LIC on telephone numbers 0177-2629231, 98161-84801. He said that the LIC would provide Rs. 60,000 in case of natural death, Rs. 1,50,000 in case of death by accident and complete disability and Rs. 75,000 in case of partial disability to weavers covered under the scheme. A provision of providing scholarship to the children of the guardian was also under the scheme, he added.Hi