Date:31/10/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/10/31/stories/2005103100331200.htm

Back Birla Sun Life to tap rural business

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , Oct. 30

FOLLOWING the revised definition of the rural areas by the insurance regulator, Birla Sun Life Insurance (BSLI) has decided to take advantage of the vast opportunity in the hinterland.

Addressing newspersons here, the BSLI Vice-President, Ms Anjana Grewal, said the company, having developed a well-trained village extension workers network of over 400 covering nine States, now planned to enlarge it to 600 in the next couple of years.

According to Ms Grewal, BSLI has also chalked out a strategy to enhance its alliances with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the rural areas , especially those that have strong networks and memberships. So far, BSLI has entered into tie-ups with 25 NGOs and seven units of the Aditya Birla Group for reaching out to the rural poor.

Having sold 48,128 policies in the rural areas last fiscal, BSLI has set a target of selling at least 65,000 policies during the current fiscal, Ms Grewal said.