Assam aims to provide civilians with automatic injury insurance

by Brian Turner

Story link: Assam aims to provide civilians with automatic injury insurance

The government of Assam state in India claims it has a plan to give every member of its population insurance coverage against accidental death and serious injury.

The plan calls for all Indian citizens living in the state and registered to vote, or their families, to be eligible to collect 50,000 Indian rupees ($1,151) in case of accidental death, and half that if they become seriously ill.

Government authorities claim that those killed in the insurgency within the state or at least those without a criminal record, malaria victims, and individuals killed in flooding will all qualify to be compensated by the insurance.

The government also claims that district administrators would help villagers to submit claims. Critics of the plan, however, call the idea a “sweetener” ahead of next year’s elections there and claim that up to 30 percent of the 30 million people living in Assam will not be eligible for the benefit because they are too young to vote or do not possess the required paperwork to be included in the plan.

In addition, there is a great deal of controversy over who actually qualifies for citizenship and is thus able to register and vote.