Lok Sabha Question No. 3021 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Bima Gram Yojana
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Smt. Supriya Sule, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Amar Sharadrao Kale, Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare, Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3021 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH, 2025

## BIMA GRAM YOJANA

## 3021.   PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:

SMT. SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:

SHRI AMAR SHARADRAO KALE:

SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE:

SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of villages in Maharashtra identified under the Bima Gram Yojana since its inception alongwith the criteria used for selecting these villages;
- (b) the number of households in these villages that have been covered under at least one Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) policy;
- (c) whether there are any plans to expand the scheme to additional villages in the near future, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the Government  to create awareness  about the benefits of  Postal  Life Insurance (PLI) and RPLI among the rural population;
- (e) the major challenges faced in implementing the Bima Gram Yojana, particularly concerning the premium-paying capacity of rural households;
- (f) the measures taken to address these challenges, including any financial assistance or flexible payment options provided to low-income families;
- (g) whether there is any data on policy lapses due to non-payment of premiums and if so, the steps taken to minimize such occurrences;
- (h) the impact assessment of these promotional activities on the enrolment rates in PLI and RPLI schemes;
- (i) the key performance indicators used to evaluate the success of the scheme; and
- (j) the frequency of evaluations conducted and any significant findings from recent assessments and the steps taken to improve the scheme's outreach and efficiency?

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

- (a) Bima Gram Yojana, an initiative of the Department of Posts, aims to provide life insurance coverage to people in rural areas, focusing on bringing a minimum of 100 households in identified villages under at least one Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) policy. Total 3,000 villages have been identified in the state of Maharashtra and 1,366 villages have been covered under Bima Gram Yojana since its inception.
- (b) A total of 1,36,767 households in these villages have been covered under the scheme with at least one Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) policy.
- (c) Bima Gram Yojana is an initiative of Department of Posts to provide life insurance cover to the people living in rural areas. Continual efforts are made to cover as many villages as possible under the Bima Gram Yojana.
- (d) The Department is organizing special drives such as Dak Chaupals and PLI/RPLI Melas in the villages to create awareness among people regarding the benefits of Postal Life Insurance (PLI) and Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI).
- (e) & (f) No major challenges have been faced since the premium of insurance policies of RPLI is  low  and can  be afforded as  per the  paying  capacity  of the  rural  population.  Various  premium payment options such as monthly, quarterly, annually are available to policyholders.
- (g) Lapsed policy data is dynamic as the policy holders have option to revive the policy from time to time. However, special revival drives with a waiver on default fees are being conducted for the revival of lapsed policies. One such revival drive with a waiver on default fees is ongoing during the period from 01.03.2025 to 31.05.2025.
- (h) There is 15.81 % growth in premium collection of PLI and 23.46 % growth in premium collection  of  RPLI  in  Maharashtra  during  FY  2024-25  (upto  January  2025)  as  compared  to corresponding period of previous financial year.
- (i) Increase in premium collection under PLI and RPLI is the Key Performance Indicator used to evaluate the success of the scheme.
- (j) The  Evaluations  are  done  monthly  at  Circle  Office  level  and  Regional  Office  level.  The villagers' response to the insurance widely depends on the yearly farming returns/outcomes. Special drives such as Dak Chaupals and PLI/RPLI Melas are conducted in the villages to create awareness among people regarding the benefits of Postal Life Insurance (PLI) and Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI). In addition, advertising through local media, social media, radio shows, posters, banners and pamphlets etc. is also being done.

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