Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Nov 17: “In connection with the fraud case of Jeevan Madhur micro insurance scheme of LIC, sub agents and policy holders have finally received order from the consumer court of Chikkamagaluru district intimating them about the repayment of premium amount. Chikkamagaluru police headed by SP Annamalai arrested LIC agent Devaraj on November 3 and has sent him to judicial custody. Another accused Shobha has obtained an anticipatory bail,” said Dr Ravindranath Shanbagh, president of Human rights protection foundation, Udupi in a press meet held at Vaikunta Baliga Law College, Kunjibettu here on Thursday, November 16.
Cases were lodged on 64 micro insurance sub agents. The three NGOs namely M/S Samanvaya Health, Education and Rural Development society, Tiptur, Sri Mukkanneshwari Yuvathi Mandali, Arasikere and Shubhodaya Health and Rural Development Society were involved in the fraud case.
The sub agents are likely engaged in Anganwadi works. Fed up by the issue, they approached the human rights foundation for assistance in October 2016.
After scrutinizing all the documents, it was found that the agencies were appointed without any background checks. For three years, these agencies had not paid the premium paid by policy holders and LIC had not taken any action against them.
Raghu, a policy holder cum sub agent said, “According to the consumer court after 16 months of proceedings, the court passed an order on October 21, 2017 that LIC has to pay the policy holders Rs 3,000 each with compensation and Rs 1000 each as court costs, within one month from the date of the order. There are another five days left. If action is not taken or issue is not settled before the date, we along with other policy holders will hold a massive protest.”
Sumithra, an anganwadi worker said, “I made 108 premium policies. I came here three times from far off place. The LIC is supposed to pay Rs 7,30,000. I did not get any premium amount for death claims except partial amount. So, I borrowed money from bank to pay the premiums of the policy. We have not received any salary since three months. My husband also breathed his last because of this. I am not able to tolerate pressure any more. We want justice. The divisional manager himself trained us. How a prestigious company could do like this?”
Dr Ravindranath Shanbagh said, “It is very clear that, there is lapse in monitoring and selection. They do not have moral rights to go higher appeal (in terms of escaping from the fraud). The women, who were caught in this scandal, are innocents and were less educated. According to the judgment, there are five days left. If not LIC does not follow the court’s orders, I will take further steps to get justice. Now the policy holders have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Arun Jaitley to direct LIC to follow the court order. LIC should not delay the delivery of justice by filling an appeal against the court order.”