Gogoi’s tall claim on insurance scheme ends in a whimper

GUWAHATI, July 7: The Mukhya Mantrir Jibonjyoti Bima Achoni, a life insurance scheme, is on the verge of extinction in Asom. While launching the scheme, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi did make a tall claim that there would not be any cash crunch for the scheme that was first of its kind in the country. In the very first year of the scheme, the State Government signed an agreement of Rs 25 crore with ICICI-Lambard and paid about Rs 16 crore, but today it came to light that only Rs 6 crore has been allocated for the scheme in the 2009-10 State Budget. Due to acute cash crunch, a large number of applicants have not been getting benefits under the scheme, and the government is now releasing funds for only a few applicants on a priority basis.

When Social Welfare and Jail Minister Akon Bora was launching the 100-day agenda of his departments today, it came to light that only Rs 6 crore has been allocated for the Jibonjyoti Scheme in the Budget of 2009-10. The amount allocated for the scheme in the last Budget was Rs 5 crore.

After signing an agreement with ICICI-Lambard and paying about Rs 16 crore, the State Government decided to run the scheme with the help of its Social Welfare Department.

When asked on the financial health of the scheme, Bora said: "A large number of applications have been lying pending due to cash crunch. For Guwahatians we have kept Rs 22 lakh against the actual requirement of about Rs 70 lakh. We have no alternative but to release funds for the beneficiaries on a priority basis."

The question that arises now is: Why is the Chief Minister, who was so generous to dole out about Rs 16 crore to a private insurance company for the Jibonjyoti Scheme for a single financial year, is so conservative in making Budgetary allocation for the same scheme when the Social Welfare Department has come at the helm of its affairs?

The 100-day agenda of the Department of Social Welfare, among other things, include recruitment of 22,613 anganwadianganwadi helpers, 431 supervisors, seven LDAs and 11 Child Development Project Officers. A sum of Rs 500 per month will be given to each unmarried BPL girl of above 45 years of age and young widows by the Social Welfare Department. This apart, the department will set up 4,500 anganwadi centres and set up a home for beggars in Guwahati within 100 days. A car each will be provided to each of the 29 jails in the State. SOURCE: THE SENTINEL