Mumbai's Ganesh Mandals spruce up festivities by beefing up insurance

Ganpati mandals in Mumbai have ensured that no untoward incident dampens the spirit of the 10-day festivities that begin from Monday. In an attempt to welcome the elephant god to a safe environment, the mandal committees have beefed up their insurance covers.

Take the most popular Ganesh mandal. Lalbaugcha Raja, situated in Lalbaug area of Mumbai, has been insured with an insurance cover of Rs 51 crore, up from Rs 45 crore taken last year.

The  policy, taken from New India Assurance, includes Rs 3.5 crore cover for pandal, settings and electricals, Rs 10 crore for third party risks (prasad or edible offerings) as precaution against food poisoning, accident cover of Rs 30 crore covering both volunteers and devotees and Rs 7.5 crore cover to protect the idol’s jewellery.

Ashok Pawar, President, Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal said that people would be provided compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh in case of any accident. Being one of the largest mandals, Pawar said that they have taken an additional Rs 20 crore cover from United India Insurance for immersion activities of all Ganesh Mandals in Mumbai.

“All mandals may not have the adequate funds for taking an insurance cover. Hence, we have taken a cover on all their behalf. This will cover drowning, stampede and terrorism-related risks of all Ganesh Mandals in the city for all the days of immersion,” he said.

Lalbaugcha Raja Mandal had taken this cover last year too, for the benefit of the other mandals. The size of the cover was Rs 15 crore. This mandal has the highest footfall among all mandals in Mumbai, with an estimated 1, 00,000 people visiting it each day.  Hence, their policy has covered perils like fire, theft, stampede, accident and terrorist attacks.

One of the richest Ganpati deities in Mumbai, GSB Seva Mandal in King’s Circle area has taken a whopping Rs 223 crore cover from a nationalised general insurer. Named as the Gold Ganpati Mandal due to the deity being decorated 60 kilograms plus gold, this mandal’s committee has taken umpteen measures to protect both the deity and the devotees.

Satish Nayak, Spokesperson, GSB Seva Mandal King’s Circle Ganeshotsav said that the mandal has taken Rs 20 crore all risk cover (basic over, fire and allied perils, burglary, theft accidental external damage and terrorism cover) and Rs 1 crore cover for fire and special perils. Further, there is an Rs 20 crore cover for public liability, and Rs 182 crore personal accident cover, at Rs 10 lakhs per head. Last year too, the mandal had taken a similar total cover of Rs 224 crore.

Other mandals are also taking insurance covers. Andhericha Raja, situated in Andheri area is taking a cover of Rs 3.7 crore from National Insurance Company. Of this, Rs 1.75 crore will go towards terrorism risk, Rs 75 lakhs towards ornaments and pandal sets. The mandal has also set aside Rs 1 crore for Ganesh immersion, which will cover the immersion proceedings which take up to 21 hours for them.  

A senior official from a state-owned general insurance company said that the number of Ganesh mandals taking insurance has seen 20-30% rise, since they do not want to take any risks.

“While the sum assured may not be very high, mandals usually have an average cover of Rs 50 lakhs to Rs 1 crore. The All Risks Cover plus Personal Accident package is the most popular one, since it covers all major perils,” the official said.

However, there are several mandals who do not take insurance, either because they are smaller in size and scarce of funds or because they believe they consider this as a commercial activity. Khetwadicha Raja, a mandal based in South Mumbai does not take any insurance cover, and this year too has decided not to take a cover.

The Ganeshotsav, which will begin from Ganesh Chaturthi on Monday will continue for the next 10 days till Anantha Chaturdashi on September 19.