(a) whether the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) is not according priority to the
rural areas in the insurance business;
(b) if so, the reasons for not giving the similar facilities of training and stipend
to the agents in the rural areas as are available to the agents in the urban areas;
(c) whether the Government are contemplating to appoint rural career agents in the ruraL
areas on the lines of urban career agents in the urban areas; and
(d) if so, by when?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI BALASAHEB VIKHE PATIL):
(a) and (b) The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) have informed that they accord
due priority to the rural areas in the insurance business. In fact more than 50% new
business of the LIC today comes from the rurai areas.
LIC has specially formulated a Rural Career Agents` Scheme to provide opportunities for
rural youth. It has provision for training of agents for 4 weeks. A monthly stipend of
Rs. 750/- in the first year and Rs. 600/- in the second year is given to them. They are
also given the additional facility of being attached to Development Officers for exposure
and training. This facility is not provided to Urban Career Agents.
(c) LIC have informed that the Rural Career Agents` Scheme and Urban Career Agents`
Scheme have distinct features of their own and both the Schemes are running successfully.
The Rural Career Agents` Scheme has been operative from 1979. Under this Scheme Agents
are appointed in rural areas by the Corporation. The rules of appointment are not as
stringent as that of Recruitment of Urban Career Agents.
For appointment as Rural Career Agents, candidates have to pass a simple aptitude test
in regional language and also an interview.
(d) Not applicable.