"Hundred Policies – Leading light to the Children’s learning.”"

This is an article – no documentation of a true success story -  on how a remote village is benefitted by LIC's  Bima Gram Scheme, appeared in today's Sunday Supplement of `Prajaavani', Kannada Daily, published by The Printers (Mysore) Pvt. Ltd (Kannada version of Deccan Herald), Bengaluru.

Hats off to Sri Jyotiba C Jadhav, ABM(S), Badami Branch, Belagavi Divison, SCZ, for penning this saga of success and publishing the yeomen services of the Corporation, which has received lots of accolades, appreciations with a million readership. For the benefit of the non-Kannadigas I wish to share rough translation of his script in English :

"Hundred Policies – Leading light to the Children's learning."

While driving in Badami Tehsil recently, I was stopped by the board reading : "Sampoorna Bima Gram, Solar Lighting courtesy : LIC OF INDIA".  Not holding back my curiosity, I headed into the school to dig more and was taken aback to know that despite there is no power supply to the village the entire day, the children's smart classes were conducted unaffected by teachers Raghu Hosatti and Konnur Master!

Since this primary school is housed in a predominantly agricultural hamlet, catering to the kids of farmers, daily agricultural labourers studying from 1st to 5th Std. The main hindrance to conduct the smart class was non availability of the power supply and getting solar energy solution for this needed a fund of Rs. One lakh, which was a challenge to mobilise. When this was visualized, there appeared LIC OF INDIA as a ray of hope!

S/Sri Beerappa, Siddappa and Daneshwar – three LIC agents of the same village had a discussion with the Gram Pramukhs and suggested that if 100 new policies were bought by the Neeralakeri Villagers in a financial year, LIC would grant Rs.One Lakh under BIMA GRAM Scheme towards pure drinking water, toilet facility, solar lamps or library for the benefit of the village. This was happily accepted by the village pramukhs.

Villagers also welcomed this win-win proposition : financial savings, securing their family coupled with helping their children's education was a great idea! They came forward to buy LIC policy as per their premium paying capacity and more than 100 policies were sold in the F.Y. 2022-23!

Utilising the benefit of the Scheme, solar lighting is installed in this farm school, which illuminates class rooms, runs fans, facilitates uninterrupted smart class whole day, helps in conducting the cultural programs of the School with lighting and sound system! The School has earned a name in the Education Dept., as the only school run on solar energy!

Villagers – Shivanand Kalasad, Ningayya Odeyar, Mallappa Havoji and Bhimappa Nandyal – proudly say, "our children are greatly blessed. They are enjoying the smart classes on par with their city counterparts!"

Who knows? In future these children may emerge as well-known Officers, Doctors, Engineers, great leaders or achievers in agriculture. The great relief is that the primary education, their very basement of learning, is un-affected by the novel scheme of the LIC OF INDIA. This is realized by the villagers; greetings and three cheers to them on best utilizing LIC's BIMA GRAM concept!

~ J.C. JADHAV, 24-11-2024.