Over 1,600 Indian workers in Qatar mostly belonging to low-income groups have enrolled for an insurance scheme launched by a voluntary organisation.
The scheme sponsered by Indian Community Benevolent Scheme (ICBF), includes low-income domestic workers, will provide coverage against accident deaths and total or partial disability, Qatar's Gulf Times reported.
According to the report, the scheme has been launched in association with India's National Insurance Company Limited and would provide a minimum one-time financial assistance of Rs 1,25,000 to the dependants of those covered. The insurance also offers worldwide round-the-clock coverage.
Sanjiv Kohli, the minister (political) and head of chancery at Qatar's Indian embassy, said it was a noble gesture on the part of the body to have paid the insurance premium of more than 1,100 workers for two years. Under the insurance, one gets a two-year coverage on a payment of 12 Qatari riyals. The insurance amount for more than 480 workers was paid by either the insured or their companies.
It was announced at the meeting that there is provision for insuring persons for sums upto Rs 1000,000 for two years on payment of a higher bi-annual premium. ICBF president Mohan Thomas told the newspaper that the organisation was exploring ways to find sponsors for giving insurance coverage to more people in the community.
The ICBF is a voluntary organisation for poor Indians established in 1988 by affluent community members under the aegis of the Indian Embassy. It hopes to rope in atleast 5,000 more Indian workers by the end of this year
