Marasur, a small village situated on the outskirts of Bengaluru, is making significant strides in social security. This village, located approximately 8 kilometers from Chandapura on the Bengaluru-Hosur highway, falls under a gram panchayat (GP) that oversees eight villages. A recent report in the Times of India highlights a groundbreaking achievement: every eligible resident in Marasur is now covered by a life insurance scheme, marking a first for the state of Karnataka.
To clarify locations, the gram panchayat manages eight villages: Marasur, Naganayakanahalli, Madivala, Bandapura, Agrahara, Shettihalli, Adesonatti, and Haleooru. Out of the 15,531 residents within the panchayat’s jurisdiction, 9,319 individuals between the ages of 18 and 70 are eligible for this life insurance coverage.
The image shows the location of where the Gram Panchayat is in relationship to the local area.
To make universal insurance a reality, the gram panchayat partnered with Christ University to conduct a survey. The study revealed that although 80 percent of residents already had some form of insurance, there were still 1,877 uninsured people. To address this gap, the panchayat launched a special initiative, educating residents and helping them enroll in the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana or Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana. Their efforts were successful, leading Bengaluru Urban Zilla Panchayat CEO Latha Kumari KS to declare Marasur the first fully insured gram panchayat in Karnataka.
The initiative was spurred by ‘Anthimanamana,’ a local scheme providing financial aid of ₹10,000 to families to cover funeral expenses. Murali D, the Marasur Panchayat Development Officer (PDO), as reported by the Times of India, noted that witnessing the financial difficulties of families who had lost a primary earner highlighted the need for comprehensive insurance coverage. Ramesh Reddy C, the Gram Panchayat president, emphasized the broader goal of ensuring that government schemes effectively reach the grassroots level. He added that this effort guarantees that every family within the panchayat has the security of insurance.
