Kathmandu. Biratnagar: Nepal Insurance Authority (NEA) organized a discussion and interaction programme on insurance with koshi state government at the meeting hall of the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers in Koshi Province, Biratnagar today.
On the occasion, Chief Minister of Koshi Province Hikmat Kumar Karki said that the state government would form a high-level committee to study the expansion of the scope of insurance and bring the state insurance policy.
Chief Minister Karki pledged to give priority to bring citizens under the ambit of insurance, insure the low-income people and advance home insurance instead of distributing relief in the coming fiscal year.
Stating that confidence in insurance would not increase unless insurance companies pay insurance claims on time, Chief Minister Karki said that the AUTHORITY should take action against the companies that do not pay the claims on time.
Chairman of Nepal Insurance Authority Sharad Ojha expressed gratitude to the state government for its initiative in advancing insurance as per the provisions of insurance act and regulations.
Chairman Ojha said that the insurance companies have been instructed to pay the insurance claim on time and necessary work is being done to bring elephant insurance keeping in mind the risk posed by wild elephants in the intermediate areas.
Stating that the NRA would take initiative to run the insurance campaign in all the provinces by developing a ‘bundle product’, Chairman Ojha urged the state government to make necessary arrangements to bring the informal sector workers and the poor under the ambit of insurance.
On the occasion, Director of Nepal Insurance Authority Nirmal Adhikari made a presentation on the importance of insurance, the current situation of the insurance market and the role of the state government in the development and expansion of the insurance sector.
On the occasion, the participants opined that the Nepal Insurance Authority should prepare a draft common state insurance policy for all the provinces, there should be collaboration between the union and the state for the development and expansion of insurance, elephant insurance should be brought for the areas affected by wild elephants and there should be no delay in the payment of insurance claims.
Ministers of Koshi Province, Vice-Chairman of The State Planning Commission, Secretaries and office-bearers of the State Ministries and employees of the Central Office and Provincial Office of Nepal Insurance Authority, among others, were present on the occasion.
