Latest news with #AmitabhJain
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
160-km Kothagudem–Kirandul line cleared: Chhattisgarh red corridor to get first rail link
The core Left-wing Extremism affected areas of Chhattisgarh will finally get a rail link with the Indian railways finalising the contours of 160-km line from Kothagudem in Telangana to Kirandul in Chhattisgarh. The rail line will connect Naxal-affected 5454districts of Sukma, Dantewada and Bijapur. These areas were not connected with railways so far. Indian Railways has initiated the final location survey foe the line. About 9.5 kms of the line is planned in Telangana, 12.32 kms and 138.51 kms in Chhattisgarh. The line has been planned to cross Pandurangapuram, Ramachandruni Peta, Adavi Ramavaram, Gangrel, Golapalli, Chintalnar, Nilampalli, Tamodi and ends at Kirandul in Dantewada district. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo This first rail connectivity for Bastar region will help in furthering the government's efforts to take development to core LWE-affected areas as it carries out anti-Naxal operations . The Centre plans to make Chhattisgarh Naxal-free by March 2026. The railways has initiated the final location survey using LiDAR technology, a remote sensing method. However, this survey is facing resistance from the villagers. Satish Kumar, chairman and CEO of Railway Board, had written to Chhattisgarh chief secretary Amitabh Jain to ensure assistance to surveyors. Live Events
News18
3 days ago
- Business
- News18
India's Insurance Penetration Below 5%: Perception, Not Price, Is The Hurdle, Say Experts
Not only does insurance penetration remain abysmally low in India, but also density too. India's insurance density—which reflects the average insurance premium paid per person—stood at USD 95 in 2023-24. In comparison, the global average insurance density was significantly higher at USD 889, with USD 361 from life insurance and USD 528 from non-life insurance Despite rapid digitisation and regulatory push, the overall penetration remains very low. On this National Insurance Awareness Day, experts from across the insurance ecosystem point to deeper roadblocks beyond just low awareness—ranging from affordability and access to trust deficits and product complexity. While the cost of insurance is often cited as a deterrent, industry leaders argue that the bigger challenge lies in how insurance is perceived. Many Indians continue to view insurance not as a risk buffer but as an investment or a tax-saving tool. 'Affordability is more of a perception issue than an actual financial hurdle," said Udayan Joshi, Chief Operating Officer at SBI General Insurance. 'The real need is for protection-oriented products at reasonable price points that people can relate to and see value in." Healthcare inflation further complicates this picture, argued Amitabh Jain, Chief Operating Officer of Star Health and Allied Insurance. Even though, he added, some health plans cost as little as Rs 13 a day, rising hospitalisation costs and fraud-related premiums add to the affordability anxiety. The average consumer remains unsure about the utility of buying insurance unless faced with a crisis. The Complexity Conundrum Even when consumers are ready to buy, they often find insurance policies hard to navigate. 'Lengthy policy documents, jargon, and technical terms deter many, especially in rural and semi-urban India," pointed out an insurance industry veteran. Saurabh VijayVergia, Founder and CEO of insurtech platform CoverSure added that insurance is still being 'sold as a one-time product", with minimal post-sale engagement. As a result, trust remains elusive. 'We need to move from policy selling to supporting people throughout their insurance journey—transparently and consistently." Can Micro Products Solve Macro Problems? Advertisement Sachet insurance and pay-as-you-use (PAYU) models have been seen as innovative ways to extend coverage to low-income and rural users. When done well, they are simple, affordable, and easily distributed through mobile wallets or mobility platforms. However, not everyone is convinced of their long-term value. Critics argue that these micro-covers sometimes offer the illusion of protection without truly addressing risk. 'Unless we shift the focus from affordability to adequacy, sachet insurance may remain a tick-box exercise, not a real safety net," noted VijayVergia. Still, when designed right and bundled with local services like agri-inputs or daily commute platforms, sachet insurance has the potential to bring first-time users into the fold. Narendra Bharindwal, President of the Insurance Brokers Association of India (IBAI), believes sachet insurance and usage-based models are promising—especially for Bharat (rural and low-income India). 'When bundled with mobile wallets or agri-tech platforms, these models can reach deep into underserved populations. But they must come with robust claims support and simple communication." Embedded Insurance: A Bridge with Conditions advetisement One solution gaining momentum is embedded insurance—cover that's built into consumer journeys like loan applications, e-commerce purchases, or travel bookings. 'Embedded insurance reduces decision fatigue. It meets people at the right moment, in a context they understand," noted Amitabh Jain. Travel insurance is already seeing success this way. But the success of embedded insurance hinges on clarity and usefulness, not upselling. Bharindwal warned that many consumers still ignore embedded insurance because they don't understand what's covered or how to make a claim. 'Transparency and education are vital. Without them, embedded insurance becomes just another passive feature." Where Do We Go From Here? If India is to close the insurance gap meaningfully, it must focus not just on selling more policies but on building trust, simplifying products, and integrating insurance meaningfully into people's lives.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Covid surge: Masks now compulsory in all Himachal Pradesh hospitals
A day after the first case of COVID was reported in Himachal Pradesh in the latest surge, masks have now been made mandatory for patients and their attendants while entering the hospitals, an official said on Wednesday. "In view of growing cases of COVID in various parts of the country, wearing masks has been made mandatory for the patients and their attendants while entering the hospitals for treatment," a health department official said. Himachal Pradesh's first COVID case in the recent surge was reported from Nahan in Sirmaur district. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo An 82-year-old woman arrived at the Nahan Medical College and Hospital on Tuesday morning, complaining of cold and cough, and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 in a rapid test, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Amitabh Jain said. Additionally, the Himachal Pradesh government has issued advisories to medical staff to prepare for the management of COVID-19. Live Events The advisory strictly instructs following social distancing in public places. Children, the elderly and individuals with serious diseases are advised to take extra precautions and wear masks compulsorily, the official said.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Himachal Pradesh reports first COVID case in Nahan amid latest surge
Nahan: Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday reported its first COVID case of the latest surge in Nahan in Sirmaur district, according to the health department. An 82-year-old woman came to Nahan Medical College and Hospital Tuesday morning with a complaint of cold and cough and was found to be positive for COVID in a rapid test, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Amitabh Jain said. Doctors advised the woman to get admitted, but she refused and returned home with medicines, he said. "Her sample will be sent for genome sequencing to know the variant of the coronavirus," the CMO said. He said the block medical officer has been directed to test everyone who came in contact with the woman. The oxygen plant at the hospital is fully functional and ICU prepared to deal with emergencies, he said. PTI
Indian Express
04-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Himachal reports first COVID-19 case in latest surge as 82-year-old woman tests positive
An 82-year-old woman tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday at the Yashwant Singh Parmar Government Medical College in Nahan in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmour district. Sources said the woman, who already has age-related complications, is a resident of Sarahan in Sirmour, and came to the hospital with COVID-19 symptoms. Dr Amitabh Jain, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Sirmaur, said the woman tested positive through a rapid antigen test, and her sample will be sent to Mandi for genome sequencing to identify the variant. Dr Jain said following the positive test, the block medical officer (BMO) was instructed to trace and test all individuals who came in contact with the woman. He added that the oxygen plant at Nahan Medical College is fully functional, ICU facilities have been arranged, and a requisition for RT-PCR test kits has also been sent to the concerned department. Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh Health Department has issued an advisory urging public caution, making mask-wearing mandatory in hospitals, and strongly recommended for senior citizens, children, and those with co-morbidities in crowded areas. The advisory, approved by the secretary (Health), urged people in the state to follow the precautions strictly. According to the national COVID dashboard, there are 4,302 active cases in the country, with the highest number in Kerala at 1,373, followed by Maharashtra at 510, Gujarat at 461, and Delhi at 457 cases.
