Lok Sabha Question No. 3011 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-09
Subject: Parvasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, Shri Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Shri Sudheer Gupta, Shri G M Harish Balayogi, Shri Chavan Vasantrao Balwantrao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3011

## ANSWERED ON- 09/08/2024

## PARVASI BHARATIYA BIMA YOJANA

## 3011.  SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA

SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY

SHRI CHAVAN VASANTRAO BALWANTRAO

SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state :-

- (a)     whether   the   Government  has   amended  the  Parvasi  Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) recently particularly for emigrants going to USA, Canada and Europe;
- (b)  if so, the details and the salient features thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has held any consultation with all the stakeholders in this regard and if so, the details in this regard along with the response thereto;
- (d)   the details of benefits given in the existing PBBY and proposed under the amended one; and

(e)   whether the Government proposes to organize any awareness programme for the emigrants moving to foreign countries to enable them avail the benefits with ease and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a to d) The Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) is a mandatory insurance scheme for all Emigration Check Required (ECR) category workers going to ECR countries. Revised PBBY effective from 1 August 2017 is available to both ECR and ECNR passport holders going for employment abroad including USA, Canada and Europe. The scheme provides an insurance cover of INR 10 Lakhs in case of accidental death or permanent disability and other benefits at a nominal insurance premium of INR 275/- for two years or INR 375/for three years validity.

The PBBY scheme was last revised in 2017 with the overarching objective of expanding the benefits for emigrant workers.  It made settlement of claims simpler for the benefit of our workers and is aimed at ensuring expeditious settlement of claims.

PBBY has the following salient features -

- (i) Reimbursement   of   medical   expenses   upto   Rs.1   lakh (Rupees   fifty   thousand   per   hospitalization)   in   case   of hospitalization of the insured in emergency on grounds of accidental injuries and/or sickness/ailments/disease occurring   during   the   insurance   whether   in   India/third country or in the country of his employment,
- (ii) In case of accidental death, besides the cost of transporting the mortal remains, the cost incurred on economy class return   airfare   of   one   attendant   up-to   the   International airport in India nearest to the address of the insured shall also be reimbursed by the Insurance Company. In case of permanent   disability   of   the   insured,   the   economy   class return   airfare   of   one   attendant   up-to   the   International airport nearest to the address of the insured shall also be reimbursed by the Insurance Company.
- (iii) If the insured person falls sick or is declared medically unfit to commence or continue or resume work and the service contract is terminated by the foreign employer within first twelve months of taking the insurance cover, the actual one way Economy Class airfare up to the International airport nearest to the address of the insured shall be reimbursed by

the   Insurance   company   provided   the   grounds   for repatriation   are   certified   by   the   concerned   Indian Mission/Post and Air-tickets are submitted in original.

- (iv) On arrival at his work place or destination abroad, if the emigrant worker is not received by the employer or if there is   any   substantive   change   in   the   job/Employment Contract/Agreement   to   the   disadvantage   of   the   insured person,   or   if   the   employment   is   prematurely   terminated within the period of employment for no fault of the emigrant, one-way Economy Class airfare shall also be reimbursed by the   Insurance   company   up-to   the   international   airport nearest to the address of the insured provided.
- (v) The Insurance under this policy shall also provide maternity benefits to women emigrants, subject to a minimum cover of Thirty-five thousand rupees in case of normal delivery and up-to Rupees fifty thousand in case of caesarean operation
- per policy period.
- (vi) The family of  the emigrant worker in India consisting of spouse and first two dependent children up-to twenty-one years of age shall be entitled to hospitalization cover in the
- event of death or permanent disability of the insured person

for maximum fifty thousand rupees per annum during the policy period.

- (vii) An insured person shall be covered for a sum of  Rupees Forty-five thousand in connection with the legal expenses incurred   by   him   in   any   litigation   relating   to   his/her
- employment.
- (viii) More than 78 lakh policies have been issued during 2006-07 to   30 th   June, 2024. During this period 3160 claims were received and 2185 were settled. Details are available at Annexure -A.
- (e) The Pre-Departure   Orientation   Training   (PDOT)   imparted   to emigrant workers not only sensitizes prospective emigrant workers about   the   culture,   dos   and   don'ts   of   their   destination   country, welfare   measures   available   to   them,   but   also   about   the   PBBY scheme and its benefits.  PBBY scheme, while being mandatory for ECR category workers going to ECR countries, it is also available for all category workers going abroad for employment.

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Annexure A

Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana Year wise Claims received / Claims Settled

| Years   |   No. of Claims received |   No. of Claims Settled |
|---------|--------------------------|-------------------------|
| 2006-07 |                      181 |                      58 |
| 2007-08 |                      149 |                      33 |
| 2008-09 |                      270 |                     148 |
| 2009-10 |                      134 |                     155 |
| 2010-11 |                      153 |                     169 |
| 2011-12 |                      189 |                     183 |
| 2012-13 |                      225 |                     196 |
| 2013-14 |                      267 |                     225 |
| 2014-15 |                      368 |                     336 |
| 2015-16 |                      247 |                     221 |
| 2016-17 |                      194 |                     109 |
| 2017-18 |                      204 |                      89 |
| 2018-19 |                      118 |                      81 |
| 2019-20 |                       91 |                      37 |
| 2020-21 |                       72 |                      38 |
| 2021-22 |                       89 |                      54 |
| 2022-23 |                      107 |                      26 |
| 2023-24 |                       73 |                      22 |
| 2024-25 |                       29 |                       5 |
| Total   |                     3160 |                    2185 |

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