Postal Life Insurance Policy

For the Rural populace of India the Department of Posts has an insurance scheme called Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI). Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said that following steps have been taken to promote and popularize postal life insurance policy in the rural areas:

(i)            Rural PLI processing work has been decentralized to Divisional level:-  Bringing decision making closer to the common man thereby expediting sanction of loans, revival of lapsed policies and  maturity claims.  This allows contingent needs of the people to be met easily.

(ii)           Facilitating payment of premia through Post Offices anywhere in the country regardless of where the policy was issued without any transfer of policy being required.

(iii)         Facility for payment of premium online through www.epostoffice.gov.in.

(iv)        Opportunity to work as Rural PLI Agent:-  Providing common man, especially  Aanganwadi workers, un-employed youth, Self Help Groups, etc. with additional source of income by engaging them as Direct Agents under Rural Postal Life Insurance Scheme. Incentive structure for RPLI business has been made attractive i.e. 10% of premium in the first year and subsequently 2.5% of premium income till policy lasts.

(v)           Higher Sum Assured:-  For providing opportunity for financial security in line with increasing requirements of the people, the maximum sum assured limit has been raised  for RPLI from Rs. 3 lacs to Rs. 5 lacs. 

(vi)         A Toll free number (18001805232/ 155232) has been operationalized and publicized for inquiries and grievance settlement. People from anywhere in the country can call and get their problems settled.

(vii)        Training to Rural PLI marketing staff i.e. GDS staff, Direct Agents and Departmental employees is being imparted to improve their marketing skills.

(viii)      Facility of Payment of outstanding premia of policy on installments basis.

(ix)         Technology/IT initiative:-  The technological initiatives being undertaken for Rural Postal Life Insurance are :

(a)              Development of Centralized software for improved after sales service for all RPLI customers.

(b)             Development of Web and mobile portal for customers to allow seamless issue of insurance policies and making online payments under Financial Services Integration plan of the Department.

(c)              Call centre for handling customer services.

(d)             Real time updating of premium payments.

(e)              Centralized monitoring of grievances.

(f)            Setting up of 809 Central Processing Centres (CPCs) at all Head Post Offices in the country for providing single window for handling of insurance proposals, service requests and claims for RPLI customers.

Source : PIB Release, 13 Dec., 2013