BJP using insurance to woo voters

Each insurance agent has been given a target of getting at least 100 PMSBY forms filled every day. Each agent gets Rs 5 for each form that he fills up, submits to banks and for delivering receipts to the insured. This is funded by the BJP. The party also pays for his other expenses — food, fuel and even boat fare to reach voters in riverine areas.

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The PMSBY requires a premium of Rs 12 a year to be paid for Rs 2 lakh cover to the insured in case of permanent disability, and the same amount to the nominee in case of accidental death of the insured. Several beneficiaries said they had to pay nothing to sign up for the scheme. As for the party membership form, the BJP’s team has asked agents not to “force” any unwilling voter to fill them up.

An insurance agent at Bhagalpur told The Indian Express: “An agent has been earning Rs 500 daily. Beneficiaries are greatly enthused as they just need to sign the insurance forms. We fill up all the details and take the forms to banks. Our camps are getting great response.”

The BJP has reportedly been trying to woo voters by “funding” the insurance cost. The party has not directly involved its leaders with the scheme, but local insurance agents coordinate with the party’s Delhi teams. The agents report directly to the Delhi teams, who operate mostly from district headquarters. The party has set a deadline of August 31 to cover maximum families. One person from each family is being given insurance cover.

The party wants to complete the insurance process by August-end as the elections may be announced in September. Insurance agents have so far covered areas in Bhagalpur like Nathnagar, Pirpaiti, Kahalgaon and the town. Sources said the party has been focusing on rural belts like Bhagalpur, Banka and Seemachal and Kosi region of Araria, Katihar, Purnea, Supaul and Saharsa where BJP did not do well in the Lok Sabha election.

A BJP leader in Bhagalpur said the insurance scheme had been getting an overwhelming response in almost all areas. “When teams reached placed like Ajmeripur, Beraiya and Shankar villages of Nathnagar, there was a huge response. This is the best way to reach out to voters,” said the leader, who has been monitoring the progress of the scheme indirectly.