For the Rural populace of India the Department
of Posts has an insurance scheme called Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI).
Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, Shri Kapil Sibal,
Minister of Communications and
Information Technology, said
that following steps have been taken to promote and popularize postal life
insurance policy in the rural areas:
(i) Rural PLI processing work has been
decentralized to Divisional level:- Bringing decision making closer to the common man
thereby expediting sanction of loans, revival of lapsed policies
and maturity claims. This allows contingent needs of the
people to be met easily.
(ii) Facilitating payment of premia through
Post Offices anywhere in the country regardless of where the policy was issued
without any transfer of policy being required.
(iii) Facility for payment of premium online
through www.epostoffice.gov.in.
(iv) Opportunity to work as Rural PLI Agent:- Providing common man,
especially Aanganwadi workers, un-employed youth, Self Help
Groups, etc. with additional source of income by engaging them as Direct Agents
under Rural Postal Life Insurance Scheme. Incentive structure for RPLI business
has been made attractive i.e. 10% of premium in the first year and subsequently 2.5%
of premium income till policy lasts.
(v) Higher Sum Assured:- For providing opportunity for
financial security in line with increasing requirements of the people, the
maximum sum assured limit has been raised for RPLI from Rs. 3 lacs to
Rs. 5 lacs.
(vi) A Toll free number (18001805232/ 155232) has
been operationalized and publicized for inquiries and grievance
settlement. People from anywhere in the country can call and get their problems
settled.
(vii) Training to Rural PLI marketing staff
i.e. GDS staff, Direct Agents and Departmental employees is being imparted to
improve their marketing skills.
(viii) Facility of Payment of outstanding premia of
policy on installments basis.
(ix) Technology/IT initiative:- The technological initiatives
being undertaken for Rural Postal Life Insurance are :
(a) Development of Centralized software for
improved after sales service for all RPLI customers.
(b) Development of Web and mobile portal for
customers to allow seamless issue of insurance policies and making online
payments under Financial Services Integration plan of the Department.
(c) Call centre for handling customer services.
(d) Real time updating of premium payments.
(e) Centralized monitoring of grievances.
(f) Setting up of 809 Central Processing Centres (CPCs)
at all Head Post Offices in the country for providing single window for
handling of insurance proposals, service requests and claims for RPLI
customers.
Source : PIB
