Mandals, devotees get Rs 50-crore insurance cover

PUNE: Devotees visiting Ganesh mandals in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad are insured against death, disability and medical expenses caused by terrorist attacks and accidents during the 10-day Ganesh festival. The Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal Trust has secured a Rs 50- crore cover for visitors to all mandals.
Mahesh Suryavanshi, treasurer of the trust, told TOI that all devotees participating in the Ganesh festival celebrations in the city and Pimpri Chinchwad have been insured against terrorist attacks, stampedes and other catastrophes during the festival from September 9 to 19.
"We have been seeking insurance cover every year for the last five years. It began from Rs 5 crore in the first year, increased to Rs 15 crore in the next, Rs 25 crore in the third year and ultimately to Rs 50 crore, this year," Suryavanshi said.
Purushottam Ebhad of New India Assurance said the scheme is for Ganeshotsav. insures visitors of all mandals in the city and Pimpri Chinchwad against terrorist attacks and other catastrophes this time. "If there is a loss of life in a mishap, the victim's kin will be paid Rs 5 lakh, Rs 2 lakh per person will be paid for disability, while Rs 25,000 per person will be paid as medical expenses for the injured. We have an additional insurance cover of Rs 5 crore for all the registered mandals in the city as well as their surrounding properties. This scheme will cover damages caused to their decor, mandap and other premises in case of a mishap during the festival," said Ebhad.
The trust also provides a yearly insurance cover of Rs 5 crore to the temple and the area within one km radius of the temple, which will also cover the properties around the temple and the devotees visiting it.
Ebhad said since the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal Trust had insured the mandals and their devotees this year, many mandals may have refrained from taking individual insurance covers this year.
Bharat Rathod of Kasba Ganapati mandal said an insurance cover of Rs 2 crore has been provided to the Rs 1.25 crore worth jewellery for the deity, the 35 kg silver 'palkhi' and throne, for a period of one month from September 2 to October 2.
"At least 1 lakh people visit the mandal's deity every day during this month, hence the cover to protect the idol's jewellery and other valuables. We have upped the insurance cover from last year's Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore this year due to the increase in jewellery prices," said Rathod.
Nitin Pandit, treasurer of Tulshibaug Ganapati mandal, has reduced the insurance cover from last year's Rs 1 crore. "We will provide an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh to the ornaments on the deity. We are not sure about providing additional insurance cover to devotees visiting our deity as the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal Trust has already provided insurance cover to all the mandals and their visitors," he said Pandit.
Last year, the Tulshibaug Ganapati mandal had sought insurance cover for the mandal's volunteers against any risk or terror attack. "This time, we have only sought insurance cover for the idol's ornaments, as our volunteers have individual insurance covers," he said.