Govt to release Rs 500 cr for Janashree Bima Yojna

New Delhi, July 31 (UNI) The Government today decided to release Rs 500 crore towards social security fund to cover 250,000 women self help groups (SHGs) under Janashree Bima Yojna (JBY) by March 31, 2009.

The money will be used for paying Rs 100 per annum as premium for each member of the scheme, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters after the Cabniet meeting that took the decision.

The premium is Rs 200 per member per annum, of which 50 per cent is paid by the beneficiaries of the scheme or the nodal agency or the State Government, and the remaining 50 per cent is met from the social security fund contributed by the Centre and maintained by the LIC.

At present, there are 45 vocational or occupational groups covered under the scheme launched on August 10, 2000 to provide life insurance protection to the rural and urban poor.

Women associated with SHGs is one of the vocational groups and was introduced as a separate vocation or occupaton under the scheme on July 12, 2006.

UNI YJ PK DS1453