New Delhi: Insurance firm ICICI Lombard has refunded over Rs 1 crore premium amount along with penal interest to the government for enrolling 11,445 ineligible Khadi workers in Rajasthan under the Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana, Parliament was informed.
"A report was received that ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company has enrolled 11,445 ineligible persons in the state of Rajasthan.” The government directed the Insurance Company to refund the premium along with penal interest amounting to Rs 1,18,20,606. The amount has been refunded by the Insurance Company," Textiles Minister Santosh Gangwar said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The Minister further stated that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has investigated the matter and given its report. The investigative agency's probe found that ICICI Lombard did not meet requirement of 80 per cent renewals as per the contract and manipulated figures to achieve the same.
The probe found discrepancies between enrolment figures claimed by the Insurance company and those supplied by the department. It also discovered that ICICI Lombard enrolled 11,445 ineligible Khadi workers in Rajasthan. "The report is under consideration of the Government for taking suitable action. (Insurance regulator) IRDA has also conducted an onsite focussed inspection of the insurance company and the report is under their examination," the Minister said. Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana aims at financially enabling the artisans' community to access the best of healthcare facilities in the country. This scheme covers not only the artisan but his wife and two children also.
Under the scheme, one artisan family receives the benefit for 3 years and primacy is given to renewals. Minimum 80 per cent cases should be renewed. As per the scheme's funding pattern, the Government of India's annual contribution is Rs 697 or Rs 797 whereas the handicrafts artisan contributes Rs 200 or Rs 100 per annum, amounting to total premium of Rs 897 per annum.
