Anekal’s Marasur gram panchayat is first in state to achieve 100 pc insurance coverage for residents

BENGALURU: The Marasur gram panchayat in Anekal taluk on the outskirts of the city has earned the distinction of being the first in the state where all families are insured. The gram panchayat has also won an award for the achievement.

All the 15,531 residents of Marasur gram panchayat, belonging to 3,550 families, now have insurance cover. Earlier, 7,241 residents had some form of insurance and the gram panchayat, with help from the Christ University, conducted a survey to identify the uninsured. Following this, the remaining residents have now been covered under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyothi Bima Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.

On March 5, Bengaluru Zilla Panchayat CEO Latha Kumari presented an award to the gram panchayat on achieving 100 per cent insurance coverage. Marasur gram panchayat president Ramesh Reddy C said, “We are the first gram panchayat in the state to be fully insured. This was achieved through the efforts of the gram panchayat members, staff, ASHA workes and the Christ University. It was our dream to have the entire population under the gram panchayat covered under insurance. Earlier, our gram panchayat has got awards at the taluk and district levels too. We got the Gandhi Gram award twice in the last four years”.

Sudha, a resident of Marasur, said they are happy that the entire gram panchayat is covered under insurance. “The panchayat officials first did a house to house survey. Following this, Canara Bank officials conducted an awareness campaign following which we got insurance for just Rs 20, which is very helpful for us. More such initiatives should be taken up”.

Awareness campaigns were carried out by making announcements through autorickshaws, distributin leaflets, so that all residents aged between 18 and 70 are covered. A total of 1,877 people who had no insurance were identifed and insurance camps were arranged, said gram panchayat development officer Murali.