FORPRIVATECIRCULATIONONLY

Volume66

Communicate Minds
31st July 2007

FORTNIGHTLY

ADVISORS
KhirodCh.Malick

OrientalInsurance Workshop
AWorkshopcumAwarenessMeetingwasorganizedbytheOrientalInsurance th CompanyatBISWATrainingInstituteHall(BTI)onthe5 ofJuly2007.Allthe State/Zonal/DistrictCoordinators,secondlinestaffmembersandotherkey functionaries of BISWA head office participated in this Workshop. Dr. S. Mahapatra,ManagerandMr.S.Nanda,DeputyManagerfromRegionalOffice atBhubaneswar,Mr.R. N. Das, Senior DivisionalManager,Mr. P.Hazra,Asst.Manager andMr. JamilAhmed, Development Officer fromSambalpurBranch Officewerepresenton theoccasion.Mr.A.K. Shroff, Manager Insurance, BISWA introducedthedignitaries onthedais.Hespoke abouttheimportanceof insuranceinthecontextofBISWA.HereiteratedthevisionoftheChairmanto giveMicroInsurancethestatusofaProjectinBISWAinfuture. EstablishedintheyearofIndependenceofIndia,i.e.1947OrientalInsurance Companyhas23RegionalOffices,311DivisionalOfficesand635BranchOffices alloverthecountryforquickandefficientservice.TheCompanyhasinsuredfrom Satellitelaunchingtocattle.MicroFinanceisrelatedtoMicroInsurance. Mr.Nandamadeapowerpointpresentationofthevariousschemesofthecompany. AtfirsthespokeastowhyInsuranceistalkedaboutsomuch.InIndia0.5to 0.6%ofGDPisspentforInsurancewhereas,itisabout5%inU.S.A. MicroInsuranceimpliesinsurancecovertotheeconomicallyweakersectionsof thesocietylikethefarmers,peasants,allclassesoflaboursandothers.NGOs/ MFIsandInsurersarecomplementarytoeachother.Theformerareresponsible fortheCapacityBuildingofthebeneficiarieswhereas,thelatterinsurethem.He gaveathoroughpresentationonJPA(JanataPersonalAccident)Policywhichis oneofthemostsuccessfulinsuranceschemesoftheCompany.
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Pitabasa Sethi AjoyShroff JogeswarMajhi ShivPrasadMeher AurobindaMahapatra

InthisIssue...
F
Editorial

F OrientalInsurance Workshop. F TATAAIGOfficialsField visit. F OtherBISWANews

The Link
ChiefEditor DebabrataMalick Editor KiranbalaAcharya

CentralOffice
BISWA AtDanipali, P.oBudharaja DistSambalpur, PIN768004 Tele fax +916632533597 Email: biswamalick@rediffmail.com, kcmalick@biswa.org www.biswa.org

StateOffices
O R IS S A Gada Gopinath Colony, In front of High School, Plot No. E/7 PO: Rasulgarh, Bhubaneswar751010 CHHATTISGARH C243, Kuber Griha Society Rohinipuram, Raipur492010, Telephone No: 07716451927

Providing banking services to unserved and deprived people is theprime responsibility of MFINGOs and this upheld activities is better knows as micro credit system. It extends small loans knows as micro credit to needy and deprived people of the society without any security or collateral guarantee. And for the sake of safe operation of this micro credit system there is another valuable service knows as micro insurance, which is a part andparcel ofmicro credit systemas on today. Such micro insurance services, in fact cover life insurance, healthinsuranceandassetinsurance.Itisdesigningsuch a way that its premium is easily affordable and does not pinch its payee. In another way such a system could be described as a social assurance to that deprived lot. In fact micro insurance provides two ways services to the MFI and its beneficiaries as well. When in a way the MFI beneficiaries are being brought into insurance coverageinlieuofaffordable premium,ontheotherway the MFIs are assured about their social investment. If one looks deep into it, it could be ascertained that insurancesectoris exposedto vastpotentialityof unused large sector. Micro insurance is also able to extent livelihood to large section of unemployed people, those who are employedin this sector. So it could be said that micro insurance services is very much relevant to Indian context with benefiting its large section of people as its beneficiary and opening new avenues of employment, which is most desired
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Interveninginthediscussion,Mr.AjoyShroffemphasizedthe needforsuchworkshopatthedistrictlevel.Directinteraction withthebeneficiarieswillhavebetterimpactontheruralmass. Itwasagreedatbyall.TheOrientalofficialsproposedtohold suchdistrictlevelmeetinginAugust/Septemberthisyear.They highlypraisedthestepstakenbytheChairmantospreadthe growthofinsurancecoverinsuchalargescale.Theydeposed confidencethatBISWAwillemergeasaRoleModelforother NGOs/MFIsinthecountry. Attheend,Mr.P.Hazrasummedupthediscussionand proposedvoteofthanks.

TATAAIGOfficialsField Visit
TATAAIGisgoingtoemergeasthemostimportantpartner ofBISWAsofarasMicroInsuranceisconcerned.Inorder tohaveafirsthandexperienceofthehealthscenarioinBISWA operationalareas,agroupofhighlevelTATAAIGofficials v i s i t e d B I S WA . T h e membersof the team were: Mr. A b h i j i t Banerjee, Manager, TATAAIG f r o m K o l k a t a Mr. R. Sridhar,Manager,ProductDesignandTraining,TATAAIG fromMumbaiandMr.P.Giridhar,AVPTATAAIG,Bangalore. Mr. Pradeep Ku. Mohanty,Asst. Manager, TATAAIG, Bhubanswarjoinedthemlater. th Onthe17 July07Mr.GiridharandMr.Banerjeevisited th Matikhai.Onthe18 Mr.R.Sridharjoinedthem.Allofthem th wenttoKuchindaonthe18 .TheydiscussedwiththeSHG th membersintheirmeeting.Onthe19 Julytheywentto Rairakhol.Asitwasrainingthemeetingwasorganizedat BISWAOfficethere.TheyvisitedCommunityHealthCentre IatCharmalandSubDivisionalHospitalatRairakhol.They interactedwiththedoctorsandwentaroundthehospitals. th Onthe20 July07,theywenttothePrimaryHealthCenter (PHC)atThemraandPadiabahal.TheywentaroundThemra
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Dr.S.Mahapatrahimselfaveterinarydoctordiscussedabout theInsuranceofLivestock,animalsandbirds.Heexplained theimportanceofeartaggingofcattle.Hesaidthatevery animalexceptmanhasanECONOMICLIFEandhencean ECONOMICAGE. Then followed a lively interaction session. Mr. Sanjaya Badgayan,StateCoordinator,Chhattisgarhaskedforthe reasonsindelayregardingclaimsettlement.Mr.D.Padhi, ZonalCoordinatorsupplementedtothis.Mr.Nandatoldthat itwasduetononcomplianceofdocuments.Hespeltout someotherviablealternativesalso.Sincethesearevery difficulttopracticeatgrassrootleveli.e.inruralscenario Mr.C.S.Pradhan,DistrictCoordinator,Deogarhsuggested thatalettertobeissuedtoalltheDistrictCoordinatorsand theOrientalBranchOfficesinalltheoperationaldistrictsof BISWAsothattherewillbenoconfusion.

PHCaccompaniedbyahospitalstaff.InPadiabahaltheydiscussedwiththeinchargedoctor.Subsequently,theyvisitedthe DistrictHeadquartersHospitalofSambalpurandVSSMedicalCollege&HospitalatBurla. Inthevillages,membersoftheSHGs,federationmembers,officebearers,concernedAreaCoordinatorsandOrganizers werepresentinthemeeting.Mr.AjoyShroff,Manager,Insurance,BISWAaccompaniedthemthroughoutthevisit.Their mainobjectivewastoknowthedifficultiesfacedbythepeopleinavailingmedicalfacilitieswhilesufferingfromdiseases. Memberstoldthemaboutthemaindiseasesoftheirareas,transportationfacilities,infrastructurelikePHC,CHC,Hospitals, NursingHomes,availabilityofmedicines,pathologicaltestsetc. TheywereawareoftheproblemsfacedbythemforattendingcriticaldiseaseslikeCancer,heartattack,kidneyfailure,gull bladderstoneetc.Everywherethemembersdrewtheirattentionaboutthe2majorproblems:worstinfrastructure&poor transportfacilities.Transportationaccountsforthemajorityoftheirmedicalexpenses.Inthesemeetings,Mr.AjoyShroff moderatedandfacilitatedthediscussion. OnthesameeveningallofthemvisitedTATAAIGSectionoftheInsuranceDepartmentatBISWAHeadOffice.Theysaw th theworkinganddiscussedwiththestaffmembers.Onthe20 afternoon,theywereintroducedtotheBISWAHeadOffice staffinthespecialmeetingconvenedbyMr.K.C.Malick,ChairmanBISWAatBTIConferenceHall.Mr.Giridharspoke abouttheaimoftheirvisit.Mr.Sridhardeliberatedonthesuitablehealthproduct.Mr.Malicktoldthatthisisthebeginningof thestrongrelationshipbetweenTATAAIGandBISWA.Sayingthatthefoundationstonehasbeenlaidheinvitedsuggestions fromthestaffmembersregardingthehealthproducttobedesignedbyTATAAIGforBISWA.Mr.S.PMeherandMr.B.S Mishragavetheiropinions.Mr.Malickgavehisviewsalso.Thebroadconsensusthatemergedwasthattheproductshould beofanaffordablepremiumclubbedwithreimbursementfacilityalso.Transportcostneedstobeaddressed.Awareness campaigntopreventdiseases&tomakethemconsciousoftheinsuranceshouldbeanintegralpartofthehealthproduct. Trainingneedstobeimpartedtoasincere,interestedSHGmemberinthevillageasatrainerwhointurnwilleducatethe villagersonthebasisofprimaryhealthcareandneedssothatthepatientgetsimmediatereliefbeforebeingshiftedtothe nearbyhospitalforfurthertreatment. st ThevisitingTATAAIGofficialsleftBISWAonthe21 July,2007.Onthewholeitwasafruitfulvisit.Theywereoptimistic ofagreatjointventureandawidelyacceptableHealthProduct.

VISITTOAMBABHONA
th Mr.AbhijitBanerjee,Mananger,TATAAIG,EasternZonevisitedBargarhDistrictOfficeonthe12 ofJuly2007.Hehad adetaileddiscussionwithMr.SujitBehera,DistrictManagerBargarh. ThenhewenttoAmbabhonatooverseetheFederationmeetingofBSHF1i.e.BISWASelfHelpFederation.Bargarhhas 26suchfederations.AmbabhonaBlockconsistsof3federationsandhas33SHGs.60memberswerepresentinthe meeting.Theyhadcomefromfaroffplacesandevencrossingriversalso.Mr.Banerjeeobservedtheproceedingsofthe meeting.Itis1yearoldFederation.Heaskedthemembersastowhatchangeshavebeenobservedinthelast1year? Respondingtothis,Smt.Suryatoldthattheyfeelempowered.Awarenesshasbeencreatedamongthem.Theyverealized theimportanceofateamandteamwork.Theyaredeterminedtopursueeducationofthegirlchild.Smt.SasmitaPradhan toldthatthewomenmemberscleanedthesurroundingsofthevillagepond.Mr.Banerjeefurtheraskedthatastowhotakes thedecisioninchoosingtheparticularmicroenterprise.Inresponsetothisonemembertoldthatthisisacollectivedecision takeninthegroupmeetingafterdetaileddiscussion. Othergroupmembersaskedforquickdisbursementoftheloanwithinthismonthinviewoftheagriculturalseason.Mr.Sujit BeheraspokeontheimportanceofFederationandtoldthattheyshouldtrytobecomeselfdependent.Mr.AjoyShroff advisedthemtobevigilantandrealizetheirinnerpotential.HeapprisedthemoftheTATAAIGInsuranceschemebriefly. Mr.P.Hotasummedupthediscussion&gavevoteofthanks.Withthisthemeetingcametoanend.

PreConceptionandPreMarital DiagnosticTechniques(Prohibitionofsex selectionAct1994),Govt.ofIndia

ThoughtheeconomicstandardofIndiansocietyhasincreasedascomparedto earliertimes.Inspiteofthis,itisverydifficulttoeliminatetheprevailingdeep rootedbeliefinthesociety.SofarasIndiansocialcustomsareconcernedboys takethehighestprivilegeascomparedtothegirls.Recently,inNayagarhdistrict samplesoffoeticidehavebeenfoundoutbythepolice.Thesimilarincidenthas cometolimelightinBhubaneswaraswellasinotherpartsofthecountryalso. Oneofthemajorreasonsofsuchhappeningisthatpeoplestillgivepreference tothemalechild.Sotheythinkthisisaninnovativeideatodestroythegirlinfant beforetheytakebirth.Thesecasesareincreasingduetothelackofawareness relatedtoSexProhibitionAct.Onthecontrary,suchoffendersarenotbeing punishedaspertheLaw.Herewearegivingyouabirdseyeviewoftheact. In1994theGovernmentofIndiapassedthepreconceptionandpremarital diagnosticTechniques(Prohibitionofsexselection)Actwiththeaimofpreventing femalefoeticide.TheimplementationofthisActwasslow.Itwaslateramended andreplacedin2002bythePrenatalDiagnosticTechniques(Regulatingand PreventionofMisuse)Actwithouteverhavingbeenproperlyimplemented. TheActhasacentralandstatelevelsupervisoryboard,anappropriateauthority, andsupportingadvisorycommittee.Thefunctionofthesupervisoryboardisto oversee,monitorandmakeamendmentstotheprovisionsoftheAct.Appropriate Authorityprovidesregistrationandconductstheadministrativeworkinvolved ininspection,investigation,andthepenalizingofdefameters.TheAdvisory committeeprovidesexpertandtechnicalsupporttotheAppropriateAuthority. ContraveningtheprovisionsoftheActcanleadtoafineofRs.10,000/and uptothreeyearsimprisonmentforafirstoffence,withgreaterfinesandlonger termsofimprisonmentforrepeatoffenders.TheAppropriateAuthorityinforms thecentralorstatemedicalcounciltotakeactionagainstmedicalprofessionals, leadingtosuspensiononthestakingoffofpractitionersfoundguiltyofcontravening theprovisionsoftheAct. Beforeconductinganyprenataldiagnosticprocedure,themedicalpractitioner mustobtainawrittenconsentfromthepregnantwomeninalocallanguagethat she understands. Prenatal tests may be performed in various specified circumstancesincludingriskofchromosomalabnormalitiesinthecaseofwomen over35andgeneticdiseasesevidentinthefamilyhistoryofthecouple. Ifyouwanttosubscribe on line The Link, please logontoourwebsite: www.biswa.org/newsletter To, Ticket ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................

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