Date:10/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/06/10/stories/2005061002101700.htm

Back Insurers told to design `cover' for Gulf NRIs

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , June 8

THE Andhra Pradesh Government has urged the insurance companies to design special insurance schemes for the non-resident Indians (NRIs) residing in the Gulf and West Asia.

Addressing the representatives of insurance companies at the State Secretariat here on Wednesday, the Minister for Information and Public Relations, Mr Shabbir Ali, said around 35 lakh NRIs were residing in the Gulf and West Asia.

According to an official release, the representatives of insurance companies who participated in the meeting included United India Insurance, ICICI Prudential and Bajaj Allianz.

Stating that the State Government has constituted an NRI study group to address their problems, the Minister said the Government was actively negotiating with various departments in this connection.

Mr Shabbir Ali urged the insurers to design schemes that could be of use to the dependents of NRIs with benefits in the areas of pension, medical, accident and retirement. He also added that the schemes should cater to the needs of different income groups.

As a part of its measures to extend support to NRIs, the State Government would offer advisory services to them and also in buying housing plots with clear titles.

Stating that the insurance companies were offering a specially designed insurance scheme titled `Swasraya' in Kerala, the Minister said the Andhra Pradesh Government was sending a delegation to Kerala next week to study the scheme.

Once the insurance companies design the tailor-made schemes for NRIs, the State Government would disseminate information on these schemes to NRIs through the newly constituted NRI Department, Mr Shabbir Ali said.