Rural Insurance

The main objective of the programme is to make sure that the rural families involved are provided with working capital and assistance in the form of income generating assets, etc. Institutional credit, subsidy etc. will be offered for the same purpose. The beneficiaries of IRDP projects will be protected with the special insurance schemes. The policies come with reduced rates of premium and simplified procedures for claims.

Rural Insurance Features and Benefits:

Rural Policies:

The following can be insured under Rural policies:

1. Sub-animals including honeybee, silkworm etc.
2. Livestock including sheep, cattle, goat, etc.
3. Property. For example agricultural pumpsets, etc.
4. Plantation and horticultural crops including grapes, rubber trees etc.
5. Persons. For example gramin accident.

Eligibility:

According to the IRDA, Rural sector can only be defined as such only if it fills the following categories (according to the last census):

1. Has a population of less than 5000
2. The density of population in the area must not be more than 400 per square kilometre.
3. A minimum of 75% of the male working population must be engaged in agriculture related work.

Sum Insured:

The market value of cattle may differ according to the breed, time and area. A qualified veterinarian recommends the sum insured based on the particular animal's market value. Security of the animal is based on market value or sum insured, whichever is less. For scheme animals, the policy is issued as agreed value policy and claims are settled for 100% of sum insured.

Premium:

The premium rates are higher for non-scheme animals than for scheme animals. This mainly includes crossbred/ indigenous animals. Exotic animals will be charged higher rates. Long-term discounts and group discounts are available. In case of adverse claims experience, there is a possibility of increasing the renewal premium.

What's covered, what's not under Rural Insurance Policy:

Coverage for the Cattle policy includes the following:

Death due to:

• Accident due to lightning, fire, flood, storm, inundation, hurricane, cyclone, earthquake, tornado, tempest and famine.
• Cattle contracting diseases or disease occurring during the policy period.
• Riot and strike
• Surgical operations

Disability (PTD) may be covered if the policy holder opts to pay an extra premium:

• Permanent Total Disability, if in the case of Milch Cattle, for example, means the total and permanent incapacity to yield milk or conceive.
• Permanent Total Disability, if in the case of Stud Bulls, for example, means permanent inability to breed.
• Permanent Total Disability, if in the case of Calves / Heifers, Bullocks, and castrated male buffaloes, means the permanent and total inability of carrying out the use as mentioned in the proposal form.

The following will not be covered in the insurance:

If it is found that the cattle have been through any of the following, then the insurer will not cover the cost:

• Overloading, wilful or malicious injury or neglect, unskilful treatment or not using the animals for the purpose that has been stated in the policy.
• Deliberate slaughter of the animal. This does not include cases where the animal is killed due to incurable suffering of the animal, in which case there must be a certificate from a qualified Veterinarian. This also does not include cases where the animal is slaughtered by the order of lawfully constituted authority.
• The animal will not be covered if it contracted a disease or was in an accident before the insurance period.
• Clandestine sale or theft of the insured animal will not be covered.
• Risks involved while transporting the animal by air and sea will not be covered.
• Pleuro-pneumonia if the insured cattle is in Sibasagar Districs of Assam or Lakimpur.

Special conditions:

1. The insurer will not be liable to pay the claim if the animal died due to a disease which occurred within 15 days from the commencement of risk.
2. The ear tags must be surrendered to the company, without which the claim will not be entertained. It is the responsibility of the insured to make sure that the company is informed if a tag is lost and also to get the animal retagged.

Other policies that rural insurance have cover for:

1. Farmers' package insurance
2. Hut insurance
3. Gramin personal accident insurance
4. Animal-driven cart insurance
5. Cycle rickshaw policy
6. Lift irrigation insurance
7. Failed-well insurance
8. Agricultural pump set policy
9. Horticulture / plantation insurance scheme
10. Honey bee insurance
11. Sericulture (silk worm) insurance
12. Aqua culture (shrimp / prawn) insurance
13. Poultry insurance
14. Sheep and goat insurance
15. Insurance cover is also available for the following types of animals:
    1. Elephants
    2. Pigs
    3. Rabbits
    4. Zoo and Circus animals and birds

Rural Insurance Claim Procedure:

If the insured animal dies, the policy holder must immediately intimate the news to the insurer. He/ she must also provide the insurer with the duly-filled claim form, Death Certificate from a qualified veterinarian, Post-mortem examination report (if the company requires it), Ear Tag of the animal and also must make sure that the value of the animal has been established as required.

Companies that offer Rural Insurance are:

Following is a list of bodies that offer Rural Insurance in India. This is not a complete list, but merely an indication of the options that one has when it comes to Rural Insurance:

HDFC Life

ICICI Lombard

Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company Limited

IndusInd Bank Limited

Dharmapuri District Central Co-operative Bank

Central Bank of India

Ministry of Labour, Govt of India