Government Aims to Recruit 200,000 Bima Sakhis in Three Years: Nirmala Sitharaman
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Panipat, Dec 9 (NationPress) The government intends to recruit 200,000 Bima Sakhis or insurance agents over the next three years, commencing with 25,000 appointments this year, as stated by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during an event in this city in Haryana.
Applicants must submit documentation verifying their age, address, and educational qualifications.
During her speech before the launch of the ambitious 'Bima Sakhi Yojana' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this Haryana city, Minister Sitharaman emphasized that the Central government, led by Prime Minister Modi, is executing numerous schemes designed to empower women.
The 'Bima Sakhi Yojana' initiative, implemented by the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), aims to empower women aged 18 to 70 years who have completed Class 10. This initiative underscores the government's dedication to promoting gender equality and empowering women across various sectors.
Each female insurance agent volunteer will earn a stipend of Rs 7,000 per month in the first year, Rs 6,000 per month in the second year, and Rs 5,000 per month in the third year, as mentioned by FM Sitharaman.
Upon successful completion of training, participants will qualify as LIC agents, assisting in reducing the insurance coverage gap in rural and semi-urban regions.
Moreover, graduates of the Bima Sakhi programme may become eligible for development officer positions within LIC, providing them with opportunities for career advancement in the insurance field.
FM Sitharaman noted that in this year's budget, Rs 3.3 lakh crore has been allocated for women-centric schemes in the country.
She reiterated the Prime Minister's belief that women should be more than mere participants in the development process; they should emerge as its leaders.
Highlighting the successes of various women-oriented schemes, the Finance Minister pointed out that out of 54 crore Jan Dhan accounts established in the country, 55 percent are owned by women, and out of 50 crore Mudra loans disbursed nationally, 70 percent have been allocated to women.
A target has been set to create 3 crore 'Lakhpati Didis' in the country, and to date, over 1.15 crore women have achieved the status of 'Lakhpati Didi'.
FM Sitharaman mentioned that Haryana has excelled in executing this scheme.
From 2017-18 to 2023, the count of female agents has risen dramatically. In 2017, there were six lakh women agents, which has now increased to 7.45 lakh. However, among every 100 LIC agents, only 28 are women, revealing that out of 2,800 agents, only 28 are female. This highlights the critical need for the 'Bima Sakhi Yojana', which Prime Minister Modi is launching today.
I believe this initiative, also referred to as the Women Career Agent Programme, represents a major advancement for women's empowerment. As part of this programme, 25,000 women will be designated as 'Bima Sakhi' by PM Modi.
