Kathmandu. #पूर्णबहादुर Thapa is the Deputy Director of Nepal Insurance Authority inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_0 inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_3 #inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_1###पूर्णबहादुर Thapa# He has been working as an insurance regulator for a long time. Thapa joined the Insurance Authority (erstwhile Insurance Committee) in 2055 BS. At that time, he was working at biratnagar branch office. Then he came to the central office. After coming to the central office, he again worked as the head of the Lumbini Province Office of the NRA for more than two years. From there, Thapa is again working in the central office of the NRA. At present, he is the head of the staff administration section of the AUTHORITY. Summary of conversation with the same Thapa, who has been working in the insurance regulator for more than two and a half decades ##inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_0 इन्स्योरेन्स Talkinline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_3##मा:
#inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_1##तपाइँ led the provincial structure of Lumbini Province for almost two years. What does nepal’s insurance sector look like from the state?
I stayed in the provincial office for two years, two months and two days. While living there, he was able to work spontaneously. I feel that the program and more programs that you can do as prescribed in the budget can be done well.
inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_0 was the founding office chief of Lumbini Province inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_1 #तपाइँ. What rights will be given to the state?#
The state has the right to spend. It has the rights given by the Economic and Procurement Bye-laws. Similarly, there are other scheduled programs. Such programs are also held at the local level. We do insurance literacy program, on-site inspection, complaint hearing program, etc.
##inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_1#उजुरीको had the right to decide?
Only the board of directors has the right to decide the complaint.
स-small problems can be coordinated by calling two sides?#inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_3##
The work of facilitation is done. There were complaints that someone delayed the payment of the claim, gave a little. We would then hold discussions with the complainant, the insurer and the authority. That made it much easier. In two years, we had forwarded a lot of files that way. Many files were mediated and settled there.
#inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_0#how is #बीमितको understanding?#
The insured does not know where to file a complaint if needed. If they do not know that they have to file a complaint with the Insurance Authority, they will have to face problems. Now, after the presence of the AUTHORITY in the state, things are being done to come to the AUTHORITY for small things, meet and apply.
अधिकार delegation is considered very important in federalism. NeA is also taking itself to the province and working with financial powers. Insurance companies are not used to it. Even if you have to sign a cheque of Rs 50,000, are you going to the center?inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_3##
Insurance companies also have provincial offices. However, the state office ‘T&Snacks’ has also not been given the right to spend. They spend and come to the centre to pay the bills. They don’t have the right to spend.
यसमा should you have a role to play?#inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_3###
We have worked in the same way that we should give some roles. They have been given the right to underwrite and do marketing. The right to pay and spend claims is not given.
##inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_0#Giving #उठाउने rights and not giving the right to spend? Is it an injustice to the insured? #
We have issued a directive from the AUTHORITY on the payment of claims. In case of property insurance or other insurance, we can pay on-the-spot claims up to Rs 200,000. Similarly, there is a provision to pay on-the-spot agricultural insurance up to Rs 50,000. It will be easier if companies give them authority.
त्यसै citizens do not trust insurance too much. Because when taking money, they take it easily. However, at the time of returning, it becomes his responsibility, then he starts sending files to the center. Then it’s late.
Within two years, we conducted programmes in 55 out of 109 municipalities. This was the most common question at the time. Why delay the time of insurance and payment of claims? That’s the question of many. But the process has been made easier, not the same as in the past. The company is providing various services for claim payment. It seems to be service-oriented now.
#inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_1#What did the insured say at the #स्थानीय level program?##inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_8##
What kind of company was the insurance authority first? They thought it would be an institution. When they started doing the program, we should have said that the regulatory body of the insurance sector is the Insurance Authority. Since we are a regulatory body, we should have started the program saying that we do not have insurance. When we made a presentation in our own way after the program, the insured finally understood. It was also found that we used to praise that the authority was the place to complain. Later, they said that we will coordinate with the AUTHORITY.
##inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_1 ##लुम्बिनी province is also a little Tarai-Madhes region. Is it customary to go to India and get insurance? Did you feel anything like that?##inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_2#inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_8##
That was the case a few years ago. However, aadhaar card is now required to get insurance in India. Therefore, only those with Aadhaar card can be insured there. There is no need to take insurance directly there and take payment. Therefore, it seems that such a situation has stopped to some extent.
##inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_1#How easy will it be to expand the insurance market by coordinating with #प्रदेश and local governments?
There will be ease. There is some increase in insurance in coordination with the state and local levels. Moreover, the growth of Lumbini Province is more than the growth of the overall insurance sector.
##inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_1#त्यो have increased your literacy or is it due to higher financial potential?##inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_3
There may be both reasons for that. Whether it is a natural increase or by our presence, there seems to be some more growth. There is a 17 percent increase in life insurance while lumbini province has an increase of 19 percent.
inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_1#inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_0##तर, you have seen that a large urban area that appears to be educated after narayani is cut, east Nawalparasi, Bhairahawa to Butwal region, Palpa, Syangja region, Dang Valley, Kohalpur are also areas of high economic potential. Is that why there has been good growth?#inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_8##
From the point of view of insurance business, the first hub is Bagmati Province. The second is Lumbini Province. The province is second in life and non-life insurance.
पैसाजति is sending a little bit and a little more to the local level in the province. Convincing them, the insurance market would have grown a lot. Is there any plan on that?##
The Insurance Authority has said that the program will be held with the local level first to convince the people’s representatives and then the teachers and citizens. After the people’s representatives and teachers are educated about it, programs on insurance are also included in making budgets and programs. We have given them 2-3 modalities. First, accident insurance and home insurance should be provided to low-income people. We have said that such insurance should be given to those who do not eat and not to those who do not. Where there is a risky place, we have said that physical property should be insured. The third is that the Government of Nepal has also provided grants. We have said that agriculture and livestock insurance should be taken forward. Some local levels have been very positive about this. They have also taken advice while formulating policies and programmes.
बीमामा cost participation is also a matter. If there is no cost sharing, it is like a grant. How can we proceed to insure very low-income citizens by taking small products with little participation?##inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_3#inline_tags_PLACEHOLDER_8##
What used to happen in agriculture insurance was that the association used to give 80 percent subsidy for agricultural insurance. And the provincial and local levels also tried to keep it under the same title. However, the new procedure related to grants has come into effect from October 1. Other agencies cannot give grants on the grant given by the association. Among other things, accident insurance can be done for a total of Rs 150. If you can, do it in your own way, it can be started as a pilot project from any ward. After that, even in home insurance, the house of the middle class people is worth 8-10 lakh rupees. For this, home insurance can be done for one year at the rate of 50 paise per person. If this damage happens, it will come to 10 lakhs. So it’s easy, too.
We have taken Karnali as an example. There are 1.67 million people in case of accident insurance, accident and human loss (death) due to natural disasters, rs 1.75 million was insured, at the rate of Rs 10 per person. Each person received a premium of Rs 200,000 during the Jajarkot earthquake. This has happened with the help of the state government as well. Not only that, 70,000 people from outside come to stay in Karnali and they were also insured. It shows that even a small amount of money can do great things.
