Group insurance scheme ends for ITBP jawans, fate of those dying on duty uncertain

This has now become a thing of the past only for ITBP personnel but the similar plan is still on for other paramilitary forces such as Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Though, the government has come up with the notion that a new insurance scheme with more benefits would be introduced for the jawans soon, they have no such plan currently in place to deal with the situation. It thus remains to be figured out what happens to those who lose their lives on duty during this intervening period. The scheme was closed on February 27.

Explaining the lapses, a senior official said: “It’s right that the government is planning to bring out a more comprehensive insurance policy for the jawans but what about those who have died on duty? Under the group insurance scheme, a jawan’s family used to get a cover benefit of Rs 15 lakh if the soldier gets killed in warfare, Naxal ambush, accident or for any other reason.”

Adding further, the official said: “The scheme was closed in February and in April eight ITBP jawans have been killed. In this scenario, the families of the deceased troopers wouldn’t get even a single penny and in most of the cases, a jawan is the sole bread earner of his family. So what will happen to their families, the government must look into it.”

A letter has also been written by ITBP commandant Angad Prasad Yadava to Krishna Chaudhary, the Director General of ITBP in March urging to adopt term insurance plan at the earliest.

In his letter, the jawan said: “A large number of force personnel have lost their lives fighting the anti-national elements, high altitude hazards or due to other service or domestic conditions. To cover the risk of life of the jawans and to safeguard the interest of their families any of the reputed group insurance schemes may be adopted for the force personnel at the earliest.”

Defending the move, a senior ITBP official said: “The scheme has been closed after receiving several complaints of jawans only. We are planning to introduce a new scheme for which the ITBP is in talks with some banks to finalise its modalities. We are hopeful that the new scheme would be introduced very soon.”