The Central Government and Life Insurance Corporation together launched the Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY) on August 10, 2000. JBY is sponsored by the government. The scheme is devised to provide life insurance cover to rural and urban people below and marginally above the poverty line.
The launch of JBY Scheme has replaced Social Security Group Insurance Scheme (SSGIS) and Rural Group Life Insurance Scheme (RGLIS).
The premium to be paid for the scheme is Rs.200/- per member. 50% of the premium will be paid by the members or the State Government/Nodal Agency. The other 50% of the premium will be borne from the Social Security Fund.
Nodal Agencies comprise Self Help Groups (SHGs), NGOs, Panchayat, or any other institutional arrangement.
Following are the criteria to avail the Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY) plan:
An individual should be aged between 18 to 59 years.
He/she should be a member of any of the nodal agency approved occupation or vocational group.
He/she should be marginally above or below the poverty line.
The minimum membership size should be 25.
Janashree Bima Yojana offers a special scheme to women SHG members. The plan assists women under SHG members in their children’s education. It also offers a term insurance plan with a coverage of Rs. 30,000 on a premium of Rs.200/year. 50% of the premium is shared with LIC and 50% of the premium is paid by SHG member.
Offers a social security scheme, Shiksha Sahyog Yojana (SSY). This yojana covers children of parents covered under the JBY. The benefit comes as a scholarship amount of Rs.600, which is paid in every 6 months to students studying in IX to XII including students pursuing ITI. Maximum number of 2 children under this plan are offered with the scholarship.
The groups that can be covered are like workers in:
Agencies and other groups as identified by the Nodal Agency and approved by LIC.
Occupational Groups: Currently, there are 45 occupational groups covered under this plan. Following are the occupational groups: Beedi workers, Brick Kiln Workers(Jalandhar),Carpenters, Cobblers, Fisherman, Hamals, Handicraft Artisans, Handloom Weavers, Handloom and Khadi Weavers, Lady Tailors, Leather and Tannery Workers, Papad Workers attached to ‘SEWA’, Physically Handicapped self- Employed Persons, Primary Milk Producers, Rickshaw Pullers/ Auto Drivers, Safai Karmacharis, Salt Growers, Tendu Leaf Collectors, Scheme for the Urban Poor, Forest Workers, Sericulture, Toddy Tappers, Powerloom Workers, Scheme for Women in Remote Rural Hilly Areas.
