Nongpoh, Jul 26: SBI General Insurance on Friday initiated a year-long awareness drive for insurance in Nongpoh, Ri Bhoi. The launch event was inaugurated by Sujay Banerjee, IRDAI Member (Distribution) in the presence of local communities, government dignitaries and other IRDAI authorities. The full day workshop not only covered initiation of a year long awareness campaign but also offered employment opportunities to the local youth in the insurance sector.

On the occasion, Pushan Mahapatra, MD & CEO, SBI General Insurance said, “Insurance is perceived as a complex subject with great deal of intricacies. This is due to inadequate understanding of insurance product offerings. This campaign has been launched with the objective of breaking this mind-block and thereby heightening insurance penetration in the region. Moreover, we have also imparted knowledge on the rights and responsibilities of a policy holder. With insurance penetration of 0.70%, Meghalaya requires special attention making this campaign pertinent. Presently, the product segments that contributes the most from this region are Motor (53%), Fire (24%), GPA (11%) and Health (8%). SBI General Insurance has been launching relevant and robust products through the year and aims at growing at a faster pace in North East.”

The yearlong awareness campaign has been phased out in four activities beginning with an inaugural session followed by a research program to reach out to local communities, educative sessions through school contact programs, engagement through workshops in close to 300 schools, mandis, panchayats, colleges and local bodies and driving visibility program through wall painting, digital screens among others.

The luminaries present at the event included Pushan Mahapatra, MD & CEO, SBI General Insurance, Prakash Chandra Kandpal – Deputy CEO SBI General Insurance, Ramadevi – GM Comms IRDAI, Deputy Commissioner of RiBhoi, Additional Secy Of Govt of Meghalaya, Chief Secy of Govt of Meghalaya along with Officers from LIC & GIC and Mahendra Tripathi -Head, Legal, Compliance and Company Secretary.