The 1.7 million farm labourers in Chhattisgarh have reason to smile on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday today. The state government launched a scheme that will provide them insurance cover.

Soon after taking over as the chief minister of Chhattisgarh for the third term in a row, Raman Singh announced to launch an insurance scheme for the labourers working in farms. The state government is celebrating Vajpayee’s birthday as Good Governance day.

“Since Vajpayee ji formed Chhattisgarh for the welfare and growth of the people, the state government is committed to translate his vision into action,” Chief Minister Raman Singh said.His birthday (as Vajpayee turns 89 today) was the auspicious time to launch the scheme that would be known as “Atal Farm Labourers Insurance Scheme”.

Under the scheme, a farm labourer’s nominee would get Rs 75,000 in case of accidental death and Rs 30,000 for natural death. The labourer would be entitled to get Rs 75,000 in case of complete disability.

Singh clarified that no scheme was there in place to provide insurance cover to the labourers meeting tragedy because of lightening, snake bite and other unnatural causes.Besides, the two children of the insured labourer would get a scholarship of Rs 100 every month while studying in high and higher secondary classes. They would be entitled for scholarship while studying in Indian Technical Institute (ITI) also.

“It is seen that the family members of the farm labourer face economical problem if he dies,” Singh said, adding that the scheme would provide a strong cover. In all, 1.7 million farm labourers would be benefited under the scheme.

“After ensuring food security, the BJP government is now taking care of poor people’s health and economic condition,” he added.The Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) would be executing the insurance scheme. The panchayat and rural welfare department had handed over a cheque of Rs 5 crore to the LIC. The claim process has been made flexible with a clause to clear the settlement within 20 days.