Minister seeks safeguards after insurance lapse deprived bereaved family of full entitlement.
BENGALURU
In the wake of technical lapses that resulted in a reduced insurance payout to the family of late IAS officer Mahantesh Bilagi, Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Dr Sharanaprakash R. Patil has ordered the issuance of a circular mandating full and updated term insurance coverage for all employees under his department.
The issue was flagged during a governing council meeting of a medical college, where a senior Finance Department official pointed out that Bilagi had not updated his service status in the term insurance system after his promotion from the State Civil Services to the IAS. Due to this oversight, his family reportedly received nearly ₹50 lakh less than the amount payable to an IAS officer in the event of death.
Taking serious note of the matter, Dr Patil directed Additional Chief Secretary Mohammed Mohsin to issue a department-wide circular making it compulsory for all doctors, officers and staff working in medical colleges and hospitals to enrol in term insurance schemes aligned with their current salary and designation. The move aims to ensure that families of employees receive the full entitled insurance amount in the event of an untimely death.
The Minister observed that many employees, especially those in lower pay scales, either opt for inadequate insurance or do not revise their cover due to financial constraints or lack of awareness. To address this, he instructed the ACS to hold consultations with leading banks and insurance companies to identify affordable and comprehensive term insurance products for employees across all cadres.
In addition, Dr Patil asked senior officials to examine the feasibility of extending term insurance benefits to contract employees working in the department, recognising their contribution to the public health and medical education system.
In another employee-friendly initiative, the Minister directed the ACS and heads of medical colleges and hospitals to explore the absorption of experienced and meritorious outsourced staff into contract positions, strictly in accordance with the reservation roster. He said institutions should prioritise transitioning eligible outsourced personnel with proven experience to contractual roles instead of resorting to fresh recruitment for temporary vacancies.
The measures, Dr Patil said, are aimed at strengthening social security, ensuring fairness in employment practices and providing financial protection to families of all employees serving in the department.
