NMMC schools' students to get insurance cover

NMMC schools' students to get insurance cover The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation takes up various projects to increase educational activity in Navi Mumbai. In one more step towards providing quality service to the needy and poor children, the corporation has decided to insure all students studying in its schools. On June 9, 2000, 49 schools running under Thane Zila Parishad were handed over to NMMC. On June 10, 2000, an education committee was formed to provide quality education to students. Presently there are 62 primary and two secondary schools run by NMMC and around 26,245 students are studying and taking benefit of free education from here. Vijay Nahata, Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner informs, "Children from the economically backward families mostly come to our schools. Usually they all come from long distances. In such situation they are prone to any eventuality befalling them. As neither these children are insured nor their parents are in the position of giving them a proper treatment, these kids have to remain handicapped for a lifetime. And many a time they are also removed from schools. The only solution to this was to provide them insurance. This is what has made us take the step and provide them Accident Insurance, from the New India Insurance Company. On November 13, we have handed over the fund to Ajay Gupta, manager of the insurance company. This is a best gift any person would have given to secure the future of the nation on the occasion of Children's Day". Nahata explains, "NMMC has paid Rs 14, 47,412 towards insuring these children. If a student meets with an unfortunate accident and dies or loses both eyes or limbs, he will be compensated with Rupees two lakh. If one eye or limb is lost, Rs one lakh would be paid. For related injuries like fracture or so a claim of Rs 10,000 will be paid. Moreover, if a child loses his school bag during accident he will receive Rs 5,000". Nahata further said "If one of the students meets an accident the parent or the guardian must inform of the same and approach to the Municipal Education Committee through Head Master of their respective school for speedy process and timely help. Through this scheme we want to assure that any such accident must not hamper education of the child". The event was graced by Dinesh Kanani, chairman, Ram Vichare, and AK Singh, members and Mahendra Singh Thoke administration officer of Education Committee and others. Babashaheb Mane, education officer informed, "There are many other services NMMC provides to its students that include free uniform, shoes, books, bags, nutritional meal, raincoat, computer education, scholarships etc. We also organize parent-teacher meet to leave no gap in the children's overall development. This scheme will be equally beneficial to both children as well as their guardians".