The death of Lal Bahadur Lohar, the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB)constable who was deputed to the CID and who died while defusing a bomb blast recently has been an eye opener. The police department is now trying to buy medical insurance for all police personnel working in state police.
Interestingly, though the scheme has been running since 2004, all police personnel had not enrolled for it and their families were, therefore, not availing the benefits ensured by the scheme. Lohar’s family too was not under insurance cover and that is why his family would not get any accidental death benefits.
With the increase in budget allocation, the police department is stressing that all people working in the police, including home guard, NVF and even green police be included in the policy cover.
“Now we are launching medical insurance awareness camps in all districts. Though the policy is running since 2004, now some changes have been made and the sum has been increased. Beside police officers, jawans of different battalions working under the state police, NVF home guards and green police are also being covered by the policy”. Anil Kumar, DG (armed police), said after participating in one such awareness camp in Bengal’s West Midnapore district police lines.
According to sources, though West Midnapore is marked as a Maoist hit district and several policemen were attacked and killed by rebels, only 7% policemen have availed the policy and it is only now that all will be covered by the scheme. Kumar also held another meeting at Salua at EFR headquarter.
