In his first online meeting with the Indian community in Qatar, ambassador Dr Deepak Mittal inaugurated the helpdesk for the Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) Life Insurance Scheme at the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) today.
In his address to a virtual gathering of around 400 attendees, the envoy thanked ICBF and ICC for yet another step towards helping the community members, especially the blue collar workers, with the simple insurance scheme.
Ambassador Dr Mittal also announced supporting the insurance premium of 10 workers who will be shortlisted by the ICBF managing committee.
He appreciated the unified goals and approaches by the apex bodies under the Indian embassy, such as the ICBF, ICC, Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC) and Indian Sports Center (ISC), and under his patronage.
Indian embassy first secretaries S Xavier Dhanaraj (consular & community affairs) and S R H Fahmi (labour & community welfare) also attended the online event.
ICC president Manikantan A P, in his speech said the ICBF Life Insurance Scheme is aimed at the middle class and low-income Indian expatriates, and has been well received by the community. Those who wish to join the insurance scheme can fill out the forms available online at ICBF, ICC Facebook page or website and submit these along with passport and QID copies at the ICC helpdesk on any day from 9am to 11am and 4pm to 8pm.
Manikantan also announced special recognition and award initiatives to the associate organisations, which assists in getting maximum enrollment in the scheme.
ICBF president P N Baburajan explained that any Indian expatriate in Qatar, between 18-64 years, can join the scheme, which has a coverage of QR100,000 for two years at a premium of QR125. The scheme covers permanent or partial disability up to the maximum covered amount, depending on the severity of the disability.
In order to expand the reach of the scheme, the ICBF is extending the helpdesk to the ICC premises on Al Madeed Street, Doha, with support of the ICC management team. ICBF is carrying out awareness programmes in order to ensure the maximum participation.
IBPC president Azim Abbas lauded the efforts and contribution of the ICBF and ICC and pledged support on behalf of IBPC to take the idea and programme to many of the companies in Qatar to get their staff and workers enrolled.
ISC president Hassan Chougule appreciated the leaders and members of the Indian community in Qatar for working together for the benefit and wellbeing of the community at large.
G Hari Krishnan, chief operating officer at Damaan Islamic Insurance Company - Beema, presented the scheme briefly to the audience, explaining the details and plans for the future. Krishnan, along with ICBF media and development head Juttas Paul, later answered a number of questions.
Anu Sharma, who was also the master of ceremonies, hosted the event along with ICC vice president Vinod V Nair. ICC general secretary Seenu Pillai welcomed the gathering and ICBF general secretary Avinash Gaikwad proposed a vote of thanks.
