NAGPUR: Extending the benefit of insurance cover proposed for students’ fee on death of parents or legal guardian, the Nagpur University’s Committee of Management Council members has decided to also include disabilities suffered by parents and guardian. The insurance scheme would be implemented from the current session (2021-22).
The panel, however, decided to drop its plans to extend Covid-19 cover for its over 3.5 lakh students as the premium cost was working out too high.
In a marathon meeting held on Monday, the members also decided to include disabilities to students engaged in various sporting activities. Additionally, they finalized the name of the new insurance scheme as ‘Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Vidyarthi Vima Yojana’.
TOI on July 23 had reported in detail about NU’s decision to offer an insurance scheme to cover fees in case of death of a student’s parents or legal guardian.
Committee head Vishnu Changde told TOI that during discussion it came to fore that parents of many students suffer from disabilities due to accidents or prolonged illness and remain bedridden. “In such cases, they lose income. Since the insurance amount is awarded only after the death, we can’t allow the students to suffer for want of funds. Therefore, we have decided to include disability happening to any parent/legal guardian during the insurance scheme’s tenure,” he said.
Even the students suffering from sporting injuries like fracture would get some amount as reimbursements in the new scheme. They can get claims ranging from 1%-75%, depending on the nature of injuries.
The NU panel has drafted the standard operating procedure (SOP) for implementing the scheme. It would be a part of an agreement with the insurance firm, which would be finalized soon.
On Monday, the panel had a detailed discussion with two to three insurance firms regarding their offers.
The panel has decided to centralize the insurance scheme’s implementation considering the fact that NU has over 500 colleges spread over four districts. “If the scheme is to be registered under the university, it would be a lengthy process of intimating and settling the claim, as permission from statutory bodies has to be sought every time,” said Changde.
The university has decided to entrust the college principals, who would be registering the students and even helping in settling the claims. “They would be the nodal authority for pupils from their institution,” said Changde.
Coordination panel for insurance scheme
NU has decided to constitute a central coordination panel to properly implement and supervise the insurance scheme. It would meet twice a year to review the scheme’s implementation and also look out for complaints, if any. “The admissions are completed on different dates for all colleges. The scheme would start from the day a student confirms his seat. We have decided to grant 10 days to the colleges to send a list of admitted students for registration under the scheme along with a cheque or DD. The central panel would look after all these issues,” Changde said.
