Kathmandu. Hardworking people like to work hard and struggle. They always like to do new things. As if it is different from what others do. Moreover, they are also more inclined to study. That study and research adds energy to a person’s knowledge. It is not that only people who study have mines of knowledge. However, people who embrace practicality along with the study aspect never fail. People who give education are greater than those who receive it. The more education they receive, the more it can be forgotten. However, the more they give, the more knowledge they increase. Yes, Uttam Pariyar is a personality who walks on this principle.
Uttam was born in 2050 BS in Waling Municipality-8 of Syangja. Currently, Uttam is the branch head of the Butwal-based Pharsatikar branch of Uttam Citizen Life Insurance. Uttam has been fulfilling all the responsibilities of his branch team management, agent, management, training, etc. Uttam is not only responsible for his branch but is also equally engaged in imparting insurance education.
Uttam completed his studies up to the higher secondary level from his birthplace Syangja. Uttam currently resides in Belbans, Butwal Sub-metropolitan City-13. His father did not let Uttam miss any opportunity to study up to graduation by working as a tailor in someone else’s fancy shop. ‘Maybe because he was sad about not being able to study, my father educated me up to graduation without doing anything,’ Uttam said, ‘My father educated me by working day and night in someone else’s shop. Even though I was the eldest child in the family, I was able to study without taking on any responsibility. I did not work until I graduated. The fruits of my father’s suffering in those days are being reaped today.’
Even though his father had a dream of teaching, Uttam has been a person who has worked hard and struggled in his studies since childhood. Considering studies as an aspect of his life, Uttam worked hard in his studies. After completing his high school, Uttam moved to Butwal in 2069 BS in search of a golden future to study at the bachelor’s level. He says, ‘I had the habit of working hard since childhood and I did not stop working hard even after coming to Butwal. It is because of my hard work and perseverance that I have been able to reach this place today.’
Uttam is successful in the insurance sector today because he is hardworking. Uttam considered hard work and perseverance as an important aspect of his life and continued to move forward. Uttam’s family situation was critical. Despite these challenges, Uttam has continued his studies and has now completed his postgraduate studies.
Uttam has completed his undergraduate studies in banking and insurance. Even though Uttam studied insurance, he had knowledge about insurance. While studying, Uttam thought, “I will make a career in the insurance sector.” As a result, the same result is seen today. After completing his bachelor’s studies, Uttam got the opportunity to work in the insurance sector. Uttam started his career journey with Sabik Surya Life in 2074 BS. He spent more than 5 years at Sabik Surya Life. Since Uttam studied insurance at the undergraduate level, he worked at Sabik Surya Life as an intern. Uttam ended his 5-year journey at Sabik Surya Life in 2079 BS. Uttam worked in the Butwal branch in the role of marketing at Sabik Surya Life for about 3.5 years. After that, Uttam completed his journey by working as a manager in the Murgiya branch for 1.5 years and taking VRS facility from the previous Surya Life.
Then, while interning at the previous Surya Life, Sunil Pokharel was the Area Branch Manager. ‘Later, Sunil sir came to Citizen Life and became the Chief Business Officer,’ said Uttam, ‘Sunil sir used to give me a lot of knowledge about insurance when I was at the previous Surya Life, he was very cheerful and helpful. I would consider him no different from my insurance guru. Yes, Sunil sir himself requested me to come to Citizen. He told me to come because I had performed well when we worked together earlier. There were many companies for me. But, when I chose the best company among the best companies, I decided to go to Citizen Life.’
Uttam gave an interview at Citizen Life. And he passed. ‘Likewise, my acquaintance with Durgaraj Dhakal Sir, the regional branch head of the Butwal branch, also led me to this company,’ he said. Finally, Uttam started working as a branch manager at Citizen Life in 2079 BS.
Uttam shares his experience of entering the insurance sector and the changes that have occurred in the present time. ‘When I first entered the insurance sector, people’s understanding of insurance was negative,’ says Uttam, ‘even when trying to understand insurance, they did not want to understand. But now, even if they do not have insurance, they try to understand insurance even if they do. Explain the insurance to us. We will come to the office,’ he says. This is positive for the insurance sector.’
Uttam believes that if insurance can be explained to the general public, everyone will do insurance. ‘Agents are the representatives of the company,’ said Uttam, ‘they present themselves to the general public with insurance education and awareness. The general public understands it in the same way. If they are given good education, they understand insurance well. Since agents are the main characters of the company, agents should be educated first and sent to the market only after being given good knowledge.’
According to Uttam, who has worked in the insurance sector for a long time, there are many types of agents in the insurance sector. ‘Some agents enter the insurance sector for income,’ said Uttam, ‘some agents enter the insurance sector for money, but for respect. Some agents work professionally and build a long-term career.
No matter what kind of agent enters the insurance sector, if the company creates an opportunity for them to stay in the long term by providing them with insurance-related knowledge and insurance, then any agent will be long-term, he says. He believes that if agents stay in the insurance market for a long time, the insurance market will also be good. He emphasizes that companies should make agents aware of the fact that they can stay in the insurance market, increase their team and enable everyone to earn income, and make the insurance market long-term. Uttam has suggested that agents work within the rules and regulations.
Although there is currently a trend of bringing in fresh employees in the insurance sector, Uttam also says that old and experienced employees should also be encouraged. ‘The insurance sector is a marketing sector that deals with financial transactions, so the old employees already have work experience,’ said Uttam. ‘Since it takes some time for new employees to learn the job and understand the market, the old employees should be encouraged and an environment should be created for them to settle in the company.
Uttam has the experience that it is easy for people with a normal lifestyle to understand insurance. ‘A normal person tries to save for tomorrow rather than today. If insurance is understood well, a normal person will understand insurance,’ says Uttam. ‘Even middle-class people are interested in getting insurance. However, people with a high financial level say that they do not prioritize insurance because they have investments in many places. However, he believes that people with all lifestyles should prioritize insurance because insurance is necessary for people with all lifestyles and disasters can happen to everyone.
##
## 
##
## When Insurance Khabar asked how difficult the responsibility of a branch manager is, Uttam said that there are many challenges. ‘Branch managers often cannot survive in the market,’ he said, ‘This is the main challenge. They have to complete the work divided by the head office. The responsibility for various tasks including target meetings, management teams, agents, etc. falls on their shoulders. If they handle all the challenges and obstacles and move forward, they can push the challenges under their feet and move forward.’
##
## Uttam focuses on how to make his branch the best. Uttam says that he will move the branch forward without unhealthy competition with any branch. Uttam says that he also pays a lot of attention to internal matters, such as meeting the given targets and training the agents on time. He said that he does his work with fun rather than responsibility.
The impact of the recent economic recession has also been seen in the insurance sector. He says that since all cooperatives also do financial transactions, many people have recently compared insurance with cooperatives. Uttam says, ‘The work of a cooperative is different. It is different from that of an insurance company. Insurance covers risks. A cooperative is an organization that only does financial transactions. I urge everyone to differentiate and avail the service.’
Finally, he says that he feels lucky to have joined this company because the team and management of Uttam Citizen Life are good. Thanking the company family, he said, ‘Citizen Life has earned its name in front of everyone and is providing simple and easy service to its customers. We will come up with more sophisticated solutions in the coming days.’
Uttam urged customers to take the service with confidence. ‘It is better than other companies in terms of service. Currently, Citizen Life is also ahead in digital payments,’ Uttam added, ‘If we talk about my branch, almost half of the payments are made through digital means.’ He also expressed confidence that Citizen Life will follow the same path as it is convenient for the customer or the insured.
