i-Nova plans rural kiosk, agent chain

Information technology, real estate and tourism firm i-Nova today launched its 'Parivartan' programme to develop unemployed youth into financial advisors.

The group also launched its website offering information on products and services.

The company in association with Tulip Telecom Limited, Birla Sun Life Insurance Limited and Star Allied Health Insurance, aimed to roll out its Business Partnership Programme to connect eastern India through IT solutions and provide financial products and services to rural Bengal and eastern India.

Speaking on the occasion, Jayanta Chakroborty, chairman, said, "We want to see nearly 40 lakh agents in the unorganised sector financial market and help them become financial advisors through training under Parivartan. We will train 10000 youngsters in 20 districts of West Bengal this year as financial advisors of our group."

i-Nova will set up a network of 100 IT enabled Points of Presence (POP) by 2009 in Bengal in the first phase.

These touch points will provide services in rural Bengal like core banking solutions, insurance schemes, travel and tourism services, health insurance and the booking of homes and plots under real estate solutions.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajib Mukherjee, managing director, said, "We have partnered with Tulip Telecom to connect POPs. The pilot project will have 100 such POPs at all strategic location in suburbs and rural Bengal." i-Nova expected turnover of Rs 210 crore by the end of 2010 against Rs 2 crore now.

S N Guha, zonal manager of Star Health and Allied Insurance, said, "We will be launching a product in eye care segment through a tie up with Shankar Netralaya and a similar policy for dental care by end of 2008."

The company claimed to have alliances with 4000 hospitals for cash back scheme.

In the April-July period, its new premium income was Rs 230 crore.