Pokhara Ward provides free life insurance to 44 low-income families

KATHMANDU: Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC) Ward No. 12 has launched a term life insurance program for landless settlers and low-income households within the ward.

Under the initiative, the ward has provided free life insurance coverage to 44 families through Liberty Micro Insurance Company, aiming to bring economically disadvantaged households under the umbrella of social protection.

According to the ward office, the program is designed to reduce the financial burden caused by unexpected incidents such as accidents, illness, or death, particularly for families struggling to meet their daily living expenses.

The insurance scheme specifically targets landless settlers and low-income families residing in the ward, many of whom have limited access to insurance services due to financial constraints.

Ward Chair Santosh Bastola said the program is part of the ward’s broader effort to ensure that social security benefits reach all citizens.

“Accidents and other unforeseen events often push vulnerable families into even greater hardship. We have introduced this life insurance program to provide them with a minimum level of financial security,” Bastola said.

Under the term life insurance scheme, an annual premium of Rs 250 per person provides coverage of up to Rs 100,000 for medical treatment. In the event of the insured person’s death, the family will receive relief assistance of up to Rs 150,000.

The ward office allocated Rs 50,000 for the program in the current fiscal year.

Ward Member Shanti Koirala expressed confidence that the low-cost insurance facility would offer significant relief to financially vulnerable families.

Alongside the insurance program, the ward has also conducted awareness campaigns to educate the target community about the importance, procedures, and benefits of life insurance.

Participants were informed about how insurance can help manage unforeseen risks, secure their families’ future, and promote financial stability.

Ward Chair Bastola said he hopes the initiative will serve as a model for other wards, encouraging them to introduce similar programs to extend insurance protection to communities that have traditionally remained outside the reach of such services.