DU students to get insurance cover

NEW DELHI: The personal accident insurance that was being promised to students of Delhi government-maintained colleges for the past two years is finally coming through.
The Delhi government is willing to foot the bill of an annual premium of Rs 5 per student for the 28 DU colleges that come in this category. There are a total of 80 colleges affiliated to DU.
The finance department is considering the proposal according to which a student will be able to get Rs 1 lakh as death risk cover while he will get Rs 2,000 as medical expenditure in case of accidental injury.
"We are positive about the scheme and are willing to give the funds," finance minister A K Walia said.
A proposal to include students of the Delhi government-maintained Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University is also on the cards.
If it comes through, then it will be one achievement that the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) can gloat over.
The National Students Union of India (NSUI) had made this promise in its election manifesto last year.
"We had gone to the extent of convincing the vice-chancellor to charge an additional Rs 5 from students in lieu of insurance.
But it will be good if the Delhi government clears it," said former DUSU president Rohit Choudhury.
Choudhury said, DUSU has approached the Union ministry of human resource development as well for funding the remaining 52 DU colleges.
The insurance is being offered by Oriental Bank. "Students will be able to claim 100% of the amount in the event of losing two limbs, and 50% in case of losing one limb," Karampura branch manager Lalit Bhalla said.
To claim any amount, the principal of the concerned college would have to confirm the enrolment number of the student.
The student or relatives can then fill up the claim form issued by the insurance firm.