Date:05/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/05/stories/2008010561421000.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

LIC agents urge Centre to grant them recognition

Special Correspondent

Say it is the moral duty of Government to protect their welfare

Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

AIRING GRIEVANCES: (From left) S.S. Potti, working president of the LIC Agents’ Organisation of India; Basudev Acharya, president of the Organisation; M.K. Pandhe, CITU president; and Bellarmin, the Organisation’s south zone president, at the conference in Chennai. —

CHENNAI: The second All India Conference of the LIC Agents’ Organisation of India (LICAOI) began here on Friday with trade union leaders proposing to move a resolution requesting the Centre to grant recognition to the agents.

In his address, CITU president M.K. Pandhe said the agents were developing the market for LIC for the last 50 years.

But, they were treated worse than those in the unorganised sector.

Mr. Pandhe said apart from granting them recognition, the Centre should introduce welfare schemes, mediclaim benefits, gratuity and Provident Fund for all. For women, maternal benefits should be provided.

Attempts would be made to move a Private Member’s Bill in the coming Parliament session.

LICAOI president Basudev Acharya said during the next two days, the conference would dwell on vital issues such as Centre’s move to hike foreign direct investment from 26 per cent to 49 per cent, open-marketing policy of LIC, demand for focussing on conventional business, appointment of financial service executives, including agents in the ‘unorganised workers’ Bill,’ service tax on commission, settlement of pending demands, club rules and golden jubilee year gift to agents.

LICAOI South Zone secretary M. Selvaraj said, “LIC management, Central Government and Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) should meet the minimum reasonable aspiration of the agents, who have been working for the growth of LIC year after year. It is the moral duty of the Government to encourage them and protect their welfare and job."

“There are 11.62 lakh agents in the country, who are striving hard to take LIC to greater heights. We have been requesting LIC to clear the pending demands immediately. This will create a cordial relationship between the agents and the LIC management. We have requested the LIC management to fill the vacant slot immediately. Besides, the Field Officers should appoint eligible life insurance agents as development officers instead of appointing private agents,” Mr. Selvaraj said.