Better deal sought for women LIC agents

Mangalore, September 4: The first State-level meet of Life Insurance Corporation Agents' Organisation of India (LICAOI) held here on Monday highlighted the demands of benefits for women LIC agents.

It includes providing a Provident Fund, pensions, health schemes, pensions and welfare schemes for women LIC agents.

Of the 1 lakh LIC agents in the State, 40,000 are women.

“We have never heard of people saying they lost money they spent on LIC,” said S.K.Geetha, State leader, All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA).

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is standing strong today 12 years after the Indian economy's privatisation began she said. Much of the credit for the steadfastness of the organisation depended on the agents, including women agents, she said.

She said the insurance bills that are being tabled in Parliament were significant for the sector as they would allow higher foreign direct investment.

Ms. Geetha said that the issues facing women LIC agents should be addressed as they were working in addition to their work at home, which is not seen as economic activity as it earns no money.

If they get their spouse's support, they consider themselves lucky. However, no man is considered 'lucky' because his spouse works, she said. B. Madhav, Secretary, district unit of CPI(M), said that the conference of women LIC agents to highlight their problems was welcome and that the organisation must be strengthened.

The discussions at the meeting must be followed up with concrete resolutions.

Gurudutt, Secretary, Udupi Sub division, AIIEA, said the strength of the LIC agents was growing stronger with the support of other workers unions.