Tihar inmates to get life insurance cover under Jan Dhan Yojna

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Inmates of Delhi's high-security Tihar jail will soon get life and accidental insurance cover as the prison administration, in collaboration with Indian Bank, has decided to get their accounts opened under the Jan Dhan Yojna.

As per the scheme, the inmates will come under accidental insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh and a life insurance cover of Rs 30,000 even while serving their sentence.

Jan Dhan Yojna, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28 August, aims at providing access to banking facilities to all the citizens of the country.

As many as 4,500 convicted inmates will be made beneficiaries of the scheme with the help of Indian Bank, which also provides banking facility to officials and staff on the jail premises.

Starting Monday, bank staff will visit all the jails in Tihar and will meet the convicts in person to assist them avail the scheme. The documentation and the form filling will be taken care by the bank staff within the jail premises.

"Over 4,500 inmates will benefit from Jan Dhan Yojna. The convicts will be the first ones to avail the service. We have requested Indian Bank to help us in the matter as it has been providing banking facility to the jail staff here," DIG (Prisons) Mukesh Prasad told PTI.

"Under this, the inmates will also get accidental cover of Rs 1 lakh and life insurance up to Rs 30,000 if anything happens during their term of sentence here. But those cases will be scrutinised by the jail administration for fair issuance of money," he said.

T M Bhasin, Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Bank, said a drive in this regard will begin on December 22 and that they aim to complete it by the month end.

"We'll initially deal with all Aadhar Card holders for whom it would be easy to complete the formalities. Others will avail the service if the jail provides their identification proof and other necessary documents. The inmates will get their New Year's gift. The scheme will be very helpful for the inmates...," said Bhasin.