Rs 25 lakh cover for workers abroad

Indians going abroad for employment in strife-torn countries like Lebanon and Afghanistan now have reasons to feel assured.

General insurance companies have agreed to offer personal accident cover of up to Rs 25 lakh (Rs 2.5 million) as an add-on to the Rs 5 lakh Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojana policy.

People going to other countries for the purpose of employment are required to buy the PBBY Policy.

The additional cover would be offered at the rate of Rs 20 per lakh. This follows the Ministry of Overseas Indians' Affairs' intervention following instances of Indians getting killed in strife-torn countries like Afghanistan and Lebanon.

The ministry wanted the prospective non-resident Indians to have a higher life cover because of rising risks.

The ministry officials, including its secretary Nirmal Singh, had recently met the representatives of New India Assurance, Oriental Insurance, United India Insurance, National Insurance, ICICI Lombard, Reliance General, Bajaj Allianz, and Cholamandalam.

The government wanted insurance companies to provide an insurance cover of Rs 20-25 lakh (Rs 2-2.5 million) under PBBY for accidental death, disablement and kidnapping.

In the meeting, the ministry officials also asked insurers to enhance to provide covers for atrocities committed by employers against women working as maids and nurses, continuation of PBBY cover if the Indian shifts to another country.

The insurance companies have agreed to grant coverage for boarding and lodging for maid servants victimised by employees and free with the intervention of Indian embassies.

Such victims would get a maximum of Rs 15,000 for 30 days, in addition to repatriation expenses.

The PBBY policy was introduced in 2003 and was revamped in January 2006. The policy covers accident, legal expenses incurred by the insured in any litigation related to employer, medical treatment up to Rs 50,000 for insured and hospitalisation for dependant.