States » NorthPosted at: Sep 28 2026 5:40PM


Reaching weaker, rural sections with insurance is top priority: UP Finance Minister

Greater Noida, Sep 28 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna on Monday said expanding insurance coverage among rural and economically weaker sections remains a key priority, noting that these families are often the most vulnerable to financial hardship caused by illness, accidents or other unforeseen events.“During illness, accidents or any other adverse situation, economically weaker families face the greatest financial crisis. In such circumstances, insurance can become an important means of providing them financial security and reducing losses,” he said.
Khanna was speaking as the chief guest at the ‘Financial Inclusion: Insurance is Essential’ programme organised at the UP International Trade Show on Monday. Experts from the insurance sector briefed participants on health and motor insurance, claims, government insurance schemes and financial inclusion.
The minister said the Yogi Adityanath government’s efforts have increased awareness of insurance among urban and economically capable sections. However, he stressed that greater efforts were needed to take insurance awareness and coverage to rural areas and weaker sections.
Khanna noted that several insurance and welfare schemes are being implemented by both the Central and state governments and that public awareness of these initiatives has also increased.
“Despite this, the greater the publicity and outreach of these schemes, the more people will benefit. It is particularly important to take information about insurance to rural and economically weaker sections,” he said.
He underlined the role of insurance agents and companies in improving awareness and ensuring that policyholders understand the products they purchase.
“Agents should not limit themselves to getting policies issued. They should provide policyholders with complete information about premiums, renewals, claims and other necessary terms and conditions. This will ensure that people do not face difficulties in making claims when the need arises,” Khanna said.
He also called for insurance-related information to be disseminated through elected representatives and other people who are directly connected with rural communities.
“In the event of an accident or any other adverse situation, a major financial burden can fall on an economically weaker family. Through insurance, this loss can be reduced to a considerable extent,” he observed.
Citing third-party motor insurance, Khanna said its importance is often realised only after an accident. He said vehicle owners, particularly in rural areas, may sometimes fail to obtain the necessary insurance because of negligence or lack of awareness.
“If an accident occurs and a third person suffers a loss, it can become a major financial problem,” he said, emphasising the need to create greater awareness about third-party insurance and the risks it covers.
The workshop also focused on health insurance and the claims process. Experts explained that, subject to the terms and conditions of a policy, reimbursement may be available for treatment taken outside a network or empanelled hospital, provided the required documents and formalities are completed.
Khanna said such information must reach policyholders so they can make full use of the benefits available under their insurance policies.
“Many times, policyholders do not have complete information about the facilities available under their policy and the claim process. As a result, they are unable to avail the full benefit of insurance when the need arises,” he said.
Referring to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), Khanna said the scheme had provided significant relief to economically weaker families facing the high cost of treatment for serious illnesses.
He recalled that before such health coverage was available, families dealing with illnesses such as liver cirrhosis, serious kidney disease, cancer or heart disease could face severe financial distress. “The savings of many families would get exhausted and they would even reach a situation where they had to sell or mortgage their land and property,” he said.
Khanna said eligible families under PM-JAY receive health cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for hospitalisation and treatment at secondary and tertiary care hospitals.
The programme highlighted that the scheme provides cashless treatment at government and empanelled private hospitals, along with portability across the country. This enables eligible beneficiaries to receive treatment at a covered hospital in another state.
In Uttar Pradesh, the scheme is jointly financed by the Central and state governments, with the Centre contributing 60% and the Uttar Pradesh government 40%.
Khanna said discussing financial inclusion and insurance at a platform such as the UP International Trade Show is aimed not merely at spreading information about government schemes but at ensuring that insurance reaches a much larger section of the population.
“For this, insurance companies, agents and local representatives will have to work together,” he said.
The minister stressed that particular attention should be given to people living below the poverty line and other economically weaker sections, for whom the cost of an accident or serious illness can severely affect the financial stability of an entire family.
UNI MBD AAB
Tags: #Reaching weaker# rural sections with insurance is top priority: UP Finance Minister
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