Insurance schemes for scribes unveiled

The State Government has sanctioned Madhya Pradesh media representatives’ health and accident group insurance scheme for journalists. Under the scheme, an individual health insurance of a media representative will be of `2 lakh and accident insurance will be of `5 lakh. Media representatives of 21 to 70 years of age will be eligible for insurance.

There would be cashless treatment upto Rs2 lakh in the hospitals identified by insurance company. For this, journalists will be given a card. Reimbursement will be made on treatment in other hospitals.Media representatives will include journalists, correspondents, photographers and cameramen representing any non-government news agency, television channel, net media, news portal, etc. Benefits of the scheme can be availed only by the journalists, who are domicile of Madhya Pradesh and working in the State. Insurance will be done through United India Insurance Company. Period of insurance will be one year after which it would have to be reviewed.

After downloading application form from www.mpindiaonline.com/mpgovt/Home.aspx or Public Relations Department’s website www.mpinfo.org, journalists can submit it in office of United India Insurance Company’s divisional office-II 153, Guru Arcade, First Floor, Zone-1, Bhopal (phone numbers 0755-2555338, 9425015735) or Accredation Section of Directorate of Public Relations, Bhopal by August 10.

Directorate of Public Relations will provide annual prescribed premium of 75% for journalists upto 60 years of age and 85% for journalists between 61 and 70 years of age. Remaining premium will be paid by concerning media representative.Directorate of Public Relations will deposit its share only after the concerning media representative deposits his share of 25 per cent or 15 per cent in the insurance company as may be the case. Spouse or children can also be included in the scheme by paying additional 10 per cent premium. Media representative must also declare a nominee. In case of accident, it would be mandatory to inform district office of the insurance company within 7 days. The draft of annual premium will be made in the name of United India Insurance Company limited.

Journalists accredited by Directorate of Public Relations will be entitled for insurance. For getting covered under the scheme, non-accredited working journalists should produce slip of PF Fund or tax deduction form number 16. Process to become member of the scheme will be undertaken only once a year during prescribed period. There would be no agent in the scheme, which would be conducted directly by insurance office.