Press Release Royal Sundaram signs MoU for implementing RSBY scheme in Bihar

RSBY scheme to be implemented in 3 districts of Bihar - Sheohar, Vaishali and Kishengunj
Renewal effective from March 1, 2011 for Kishengunj district
Renewal effective from April 1, 2011 for Vaishali and Sheohar districts
Over 9 lac* BPL (Below Poverty Line) families to get benefited

Chennai, March 16, 2011: Royal Sundaram Alliance Insurance Company Limited (www.royalsundaram.in), the first private sector general insurance company to be licensed in India, has signed MoU with the State Government of Bihar. Royal Sundaram will provide health insurance cover, under the government sponsored Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY), to the BPL families in Sheohar, Vaishali and Kishengunj. This is the second consecutive year that the Company has got the opportunity to offer RSBY in the same region. More than 9 lac* BPL families are expected to get benefited by the scheme in these three districts.

Royal Sundaram aims to support the government in addressing the glaring inequities in rural health at the micro level and bridge the prevailing gaps in healthcare. Presently, Royal Sundaram is servicing the RSBY scheme in eight districts of Bihar, which includes West Champaran, East Champaran, Sheohar, Vaishali, Araria, Katihaar, Kishengunj and Sitamarhi. Out of these, three districts, Kishengunj, Vaishali and Sheohar were due for renewal, wherein, owning to the consistent work provided by Royal Sundaram, the Government renewed the MoU for implementing the scheme further for a year. Apart from Bihar, Royal Sundaram has also received a nod to implement the scheme in 16 districts in Arunachal Pradesh.

RSBY is a unique scheme which empowers the card holder to get treatment from all RSBY network hospitals across India- public and private both. The beneficiaries under the scheme will have to pay the nominal registration fee of Rs. 30/- to get them enrolled under the scheme. Up to five members of a BPL family can get enrolled and avail benefits in any of the network hospitals for hospitalization -surgical and non surgical expenses and listed day care treatment. Managing Director, Ajay Bimbhet said, "We are committed to providing good and quality healthcare to the most unaffordable class of people. Renewal of the MoU is a testimony of our untiring contribution to the BPL families for whom accessing healthcare facilities is just a far fetched dream."

The MoU renewal will be effective from April 1, 2011. Royal Sundaram has been persistently putting in efforts to spread awareness about the scheme benefits and encouraging people to get enrolled. Ajay Bimbhet further added that, "Royal Sundaram has been engaged in activities like workshops, health camps, distribution of leaflets, road shows at local markets and public gatherings and in major locations in the districts. It is heartening to receive active participation by the Government officials and even `Mukhiya of local Panchayats in spreading the information. We will continue to conduct these activities benefiting the concerned and beneficiaries."

Royal Sundaram has put up a District Kiosk Centre in every District for efficient coordination and modifications or rectifications in the smart cards. Beneficiaries seeking further assistance can also avail the Company's 24x7 helpline number 06122206843 (Patna Call Center Number)

The 'Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana' (RSBY) envisages smart card based cashless health insurance cover of Rs. 30,000 to a BPL family of five for meeting hospitalisation expenses, taking care of most of the illnesses including maternity benefit and also covering new born for remaining policy period. All pre-existing diseases are covered. The scheme also covers transportation cost of Rs. 100/- per visit with an overall limit of Rs. 1,000/- per year

About Royal SundaramRoyal Sundaram Alliance Insurance Company Limited is a joint venture between Sundaram Finance and Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc, UK, where the former holds 74% and the latter holds 26% of the equity. Royal Sundaram is the first private non-life Insurance Company licensed to operate in India.

Royal Sundaram offers a range of innovative general Insurance products which includes Motor, Health, Personal Accident, Home and Travel Insurance for individual customers. The Company's Accident & Health claims process received ISO 9001-2008 certification for effective customer service delivery. For Commercial clients, Royal Sundaram offers a wide range of specialised insurance covers in Fire, Marine, Engineering, Liability and Business Interruption risks. Royal Sundaram also offers specially designed products to the Small and Medium enterprises and Rural customers. Royal Sundaram currently has over 5 million customers, over 1700 employees and its products are distributed in over 180 cities across India, through Agents, Distribution Partners, Affinity Partners and Brokers.

About Sundaram Finance

Sundaram Finance, a Non-Banking Finance Company, is one of the most respected financial services companies in India. It finances the entire range of commercial vehicles, passenger cars, construction equipment & tractors. The Group's operations also extend to Insurance, Asset Management, Home loans, Business Process outsourcing, Infotech Solutions and Logistics services. Sundaram Finance has a Nationwide presence with over 500 branches and over half a million customers and depositors who are serviced by over 2500 employees. Sundaram Direct, its retail distribution arm offers multiple choices of various financial products like, loans, life & general insurance, mutual funds, deposits etc., to its customers through out India.

About RSA

With a 300 year heritage, RSA is one of the world's leading multinational quoted insurance groups. It has the capability to write business in over 130 countries and major operations in the UK, Scandinavia, Canada, Ireland, Asia and the Middle East, Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe. Focusing on general insurance, it has around 23,000 employees and, in 2010, its net written premiums were £7.5 billion.

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