Pact with LIC to insure kendu leaf pluckers

In a bid to provide social security to kendu leaf puckers, the state government has decided to bring in about 800,000 such workers under a group insurance policy in association with the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India with an initial expense of Rs 8 crore.

“We have signed an agreement with the LIC to insure about 800,000 kendu leaf pluckers in the state. The programme started today and we paid cheques for 1,000 such workers to the LIC. We have earmarked Rs 8 crore for the scheme and hope to complete it by September this year,” said Debi Prasad Mishra, minister for forest and environment.

 

The scheme was floated following a Planning Commission of India suggestion, which said the scheme adopted in Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh can be replicated in Odisha.