Group Insurance For Musicians! A Boon!

[sathsangeethapriyan]

With my close contact with many of the performing musicians I happen to discuss with them their profession related matters. One very sad revelation is that most of the musicians do not have sufficient insurance coverage. Some of them lack knowledge of insurance, some find it a long term commitment, some consider it a bad omen! I am not an Insurance agent nor any kind of middleman but a sympathiser who tries through this article to spread the message of a fantastic group insurance scheme and accident insurance scheme floated by LIC and United India Insurance respectively.
I recently checked with some of the active members of the Sangeetha Seva Trust, floated exclusively for this purpose and got some interesting details which I wish to share with visitors to rasikas.org many of whom are professional musicians.

The Group Insurance scheme gives a coverage of Rs. 1,00,000 to every single member musician in age group of 18 to 60. All they need to pay is a trivial premium of Rs. 500 per annum through the trust (an individual insurance costs dearer). There are no returns of course. But an entire community is assured of one lac at any point of time. Even the prudent musicians who are sufficiently insured can contribute to support the cause which helps a fellow musician's family. Sri T S Balasubramaniam, one of the premier disciples of the great GNB, is the 70 plus youngster who spearheads this campaign along with a handful of dedicated musicians.

The United India Insurance scheme is focusing on yet another crucial point. It gives an individual coverage of five to twenty lakhs! as compansation for accidental death of a musician. (Remember of Maharajapuram and Durai Swaminathan!) This scheme is called NADA LAHARI. The premium is just 500 for a coverage of 5 lakhs! It was originally for instrumentalists alone since it also proportionately compansates for loss of limbs and permanant disablement. But the SST people have got vocalists also included in the scheme recently.

What a great boon to Musicians! I request every member of Rasikas.org to persuade your friend musician to make use of this opportunity.

I checked with SST if they accept contributions from outsiders to help needy musicians with the premium. Yes, we can contribute through a donation to SST. Apart from TSB who is contributing annually a sizable amount there are many individual contributors.

Shri T S Balasubramaniam, Retired Senior Divisional Manager LIC and Trustee Sangeetha Seva Trust can be contacted at
44 24456322 or 9884054657.

[rasaali]

This is indeed a great service to musicians. Fantastic. I hope a lot of professional musicians sign up.

All of us as professionals have disability and life insurance and those working in corporate sectors have better coverages too.

In the unforutnate event that we lose ability or life, these can be critical for the survival of the family.

It is critical for us to educate our heroes/heroines/idols on the benefits and hope they will make use of it.

Is there also an email address where one can contact regarding outside donations?

Thanks.

[sathsangeethapriyan]

s_balashankars@hotmail.com(S Balashankar, Mridangam Vidwan)
doctorganesh@rediffmail.com(Dr. R Ganesh, Musician)
ghatamsuresh@hotmail.com (V Suresh, Ghatam Vidwan)

Can also thow more light on the scheme and give directions for donations.

My write up has indeed helped many musicians in the North to come under the insurance coverage. Thanks to SST. Thanks to Rasikas.org.

[sathsangeethapriyan]

Thank you Rasikas.org. Though there are not much postings /discussions on this topic, the purpose is well served. Many young musicians had come across my posting and had contacted Sri TSB and other office bearers to renew as well join afresh. More the younger lives lesser the premium! (TSB says!). sangeetha Jana Sukhino Bhavanthu!