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Journalism of Courage
Rajasthan today became the first state in the country to launch a Group Savings Linked Insurance (GSLI) scheme for honorarium anganwadi workers. More than 1.5 lakh women across the state would benefit under the scheme, launched by the stat’s Department of Women and Child Development in collaboration with the Life Insurance Corporation of India.
The unique feature about the scheme, apart from the fact that it is meant for the honorarium workers, is the state government’s participation. The government will contribute 25 per cent of the premium for all the policies that would be taken under this scheme.
The beneficiaries under this scheme will have to contribute Rs 20 every six months, which will be deducted from the monthly salary of the member. The savings contribution would be returned with interest at the time of retirement, or exit by any other mode. In case of death during service, the amount for which the member was covered at the time of death would be paid along with accumulated savings.
The scheme was launched today by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on the third anniversary of the Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samooh Sanstha. Giving details about the scheme, Alka Kala, Principal Secretary, Women and Child Development, informed The Indian Express that Rajasthan had a high number of honorarium workers.
“As the number is quite high it was important that we launch a scheme with benefits them and the GSLI serves the purpose. These are not eligible for pension and hence most of them face a lot of difficulties after their service period,” she said.
There are over 1.5 lakh women working at the post of workers, sahikas, sahoginis and sathis, all of them aged between 18 and 60. “While the workers earn only about Rs 1,000 per month, the helpers get about Rs 500. They are hardly able to manage a proper savings, so not surprisingly, the scheme has been well received by the members,” the department’s director Anurag Bharawaj said.
