5 years on, justice for doctor's widow denied aid under IMA scheme

NEW DELHI: The widow of a doctor in Andhra Pradesh who was denied the lump sum due her from a family benefit scheme run by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) branch in Andhra Pradesh when her husband died received justice after five years of fighting the association.
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (NCDRF) has upheld the order of the district and state consumer which had ruled in her favour.The IMA Andhra Pradesh branch had introduced a Family Benefit Scheme (FBS) with the aim of providing minimum substantial financial aid to the family members in the event of the death of a member who joined the scheme. Dr Srinivasa Murthy, paid Rs10,000 as a mem ber of Dr N Appa Rao Family Security Scheme of Andhra Pradesh branch of IMA.
Dr Srinivasa Murthy, paid the contribution till he died, on June 27, 2010. His wife and two children were to receive the lump sum. However, IMA denied them the money saying that since Dr Murthy had died before the date for him to make the next payment for the scheme. NDRF disposed IMA's petition as "frivolous and vexatious" and asked IMA to pay a sum of Rs 10,000 as cost of the litigation.