Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana

LOK SABHA 

PRAVASI BHARATIYA BIMA YOJANA

979. DR. SANJEEV KUMAR SINGARI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the salient features of the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) along with the details of emigrants covered under this yojana since its inception, country-wise;

(b) the details including amount of the claims settled till date under PBBY, country-wise; and

(c) the details of categories of jobs under Section 2 (0) of Emigration Act to which insurance under the scheme is provided ?

[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

The para-wise reply of the question is as under:

(a) Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) is a mandatory insurance scheme for all Emigration Check Required (ECR) category workers going to ECR countries. The scheme provides an insurance cover of 10 Lakhs in case of accidental death or permanent disability and a few other benefits at a nominal insurance premium of Rs. 275 and Rs. 375 for a period of two and three years, respectively. The Scheme, initially launched in 2003, has been amended from time to time with the overarching objective of expanding the benefits for emigrant workers.

The revised scheme PBBY, 2017, operational w.e.f. August 1, 2017, has made settlement of claims simpler for the benefit of our workers and is aimed at ensuring expeditious settlement of claims. The salient features of PBBY, 2017 are as follows:

(i) The insured person is covered for a sum of Rs.10 lakhs in the event of accidental death or permanent disability irrespective of change of employer, employee’s location and place of work.

(ii) Acceptance by insurance companies of certification of accidental death/permanent disability by Indian Missions/Posts abroad.

(iii) Facility for online renewal and copy of insurance policy is to be made available to the nominee(s).

The available country wise data from 2014 to 30.06.22 is placed at Annexure-I.

(b) The detail of number of claims settled and amount of claims settled is available at Annexure-II.

(c) The detail of categories of jobs under Section 2 (0) of Emigration Act to which insurance under the scheme is provided is as under:

i. Any unskilled work, including any form of industrial or agricultural labour;

ii. Any domestic service;

iii. Any service, not being a service in a managerial capacity, in any hotel, restaurant, tea-house or other place of public resort;

iv. Work as a driver of a truck or other vehicle, mechanic, technician or skilled labourer or artisan;

v. Work as an office assistant or accountant or typist or stenographer or salesman, or nurse or operator of any machine;

vi. Work in connection with, or for the purposes of, any cinema, exhibition or entertainment.

Annexure-I Country-wise and Calendar Year-wise details of Emigration Clearance /Policy Issued