News

Volume 1 Issue 4 - October 15, 2003

Insurance schemes should be modified for disabled people

DNIS News Network - A varied range of topics, from infant foeticide to insurance benefits for prevention of disability, to disability pension, to night shelters for destitute mentally ill women were discussed at the session on ‘Social Security Issues’ during the two-day national consultation meet at Biwako Millennium Framework.

While Life Insurance Corporation of India and Social Security Association of India gave presentations on existing schemes for disabled people and various accidental benefits under Employee State Insurance, NGOs recommended for establishment of Gift Annuity Scheme, which is a success in developed nations.

As per this scheme, a donor can make donations to a disabled person and get tax benefits throughout lifetime. The amount is actually donated to the disabled person after the donor’s death.

It was also recommended that special schemes should be made under insurance and mutual funds for disabled people.

It was pointed out ‘Mahila Kalyan Bima Yojna’ scheme of General Insurance should be popularised for the social security of disabled women and that there should be three per cent budget allocation for night shelters for destitute disabled women, who are most vulnerable to sexual assaults.