In a landmark step toward deepening insurance inclusion and empowering women, the Ministry of Rural Development and the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the Bima Sakhi Yojana across India.
This initiative aims to empower trained women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) to act as "Bima Sakhis"-grassroots insurance facilitators who will bring life insurance awareness and access to every corner of the country, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
Through this transformative scheme, women are not only becoming financially independent but also helping millions of families secure their futures.
Under the Bima Sakhi initiative, women are encouraged to join LIC as Mahila Career Agents and become catalysts for financial inclusion in their communities. The program provides a stipendiary scheme for three years, ensuring that participants receive financial support while they gain experience and training.
With a minimum educational qualification of 10th pass and a minimum age of 18 years, this initiative is inclusive and accessible to women from all sections of society. After completing the stipendiary period, agents continue their journey with commission-based earnings, creating sustainable career growth opportunities within LIC.
A Bima Sakhi is a trained woman entrepreneur from a Self Help Group who acts as a community-based insurance facilitator. Her responsibilities include:
Educating villagers about the importance of life and health insurance.
Promoting LIC's affordable micro-insurance and social security schemes such as PMJJBY (Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana) and PMSBY (Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana).
Assisting with policy servicing, premium collections, and claim settlements.
Acting as a trusted financial advisor within her community.
Through these activities, Bima Sakhis play a vital role in improving financial literacy, ensuring access to protection, and building confidence among rural households.
Expand insurance coverage in rural and semi-urban India.
Empower rural women with sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Strengthen the rural economy through financial literacy and social security.
Align with national goals such as "Insurance for All by 2047" and Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).
Entrepreneurship & Income Generation: Bima Sakhis earn commissions on insurance sales, helping them achieve financial independence.
Skill Development: Comprehensive training in insurance, communication, digital tools, and community engagement.
Leadership: Encourages women's participation in local decision-making and governance.
Accessible Insurance: Rural households gain access to LIC's affordable insurance products.
Improved Financial Awareness: Promotes financial literacy and awareness of social security schemes.
Community Trust: As familiar and reliable faces, Bima Sakhis foster transparency and trust in insurance services.
Selection of women from active SHGs under DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission).
Intensive training through LIC and skill development partners.
Deployment at Gram Panchayat level as the first point of contact for insurance services.
Regular coordination with State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) and LIC branch offices for ongoing support and monitoring.
The Bima Sakhi Yojana will be scaled up through partnerships with State Governments and integration with digital platforms for real-time monitoring. The focus will remain on reaching low-income households, informal sector workers, and vulnerable groups, ensuring that no family is left uninsured.
Continuous capacity building, performance incentives, and a strong support network will help retain and strengthen the cadre of Bima Sakhis across India.
This initiative directly contributes to key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 1: No Poverty
SDG 5: Gender Equality
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
By converging women's empowerment with social security delivery, the Bima Sakhi Yojana supports India's long-term vision of inclusive growth and self-reliance.
The guiding spirit behind the scheme-"Swawlambi Naari, Khushhali Hamari" (Self-Reliant Women, Our Prosperity)-perfectly embodies LIC's commitment to empowering women as pillars of financial and social transformation.
Through initiatives like Bima Sakhi, LIC continues to uphold its promise of being "Har Pal Aapke Saath", enabling women to create stronger futures for themselves, their families, and the nation.
For more information or to join the program, visit your nearest LIC branch or log on to www.licindia.in