“Around 100 incidents of cylinder explosions take place in different part of the city every year. Instances of death in such incidents are low, but cylinder explosions cause maximum damage to houses and commercial institutions,” informed Ishwar Lal Jat, chief fire officer, adding that most people don't claim this insurance amount.
In fact, companies have not seen a single insurance claim from Jaipur in years. Given the level of awareness, it's not a surprise.
Customers unaware
Most homemakers were completely shocked when DNA told them about the insurance cover available on LPG cylinders. “I never knew that such damages could be claimed from the gas agency,” said Varsha Singh.
Leave alone simple homemakers, even well-read professionals seem to have little clue of this “hidden benefit”. “I did not know that we get insurance in case an LPG cylinder explodes.
The staff at the gas agency never informed me,” said Amit Agarwal, a chartered accountant who recently got a gas connection.
Ignorance pays only the insurers
Every month, nationalised insurance companies get lakhs of rupees as premium and this amount increases constantly with an ever rising number of ignorant consumers, each of whom are covered in part by the Oriental Insurance Company and the gas agency concerned.
“We received Rs26 lakh as monthly premium from a single gas agency in Jaipur, a city which has more than 400 gas agencies,” an agency owner said.
Adding that in the two decades since he's been running the gas agency, not a single customer has claimed insurance despite several mishaps.
Everyone know the difference an asterix at top of a 'SALE' poster can make. So goes for your eligibility to claim insurance.
“The amount of insurance payable varies according to the installments deposited by the agency. Also, if an accident is caused by cylinder explosion where accessories used were original and ISI approved, then customers can claim damages; otherwise not,” said a senior manager with one of the leading government-run insurance companies.
It is fairly easy and cheap to check if your accessories you use are acceptable. At Rs70 as maintenance charges for two years, the local gas agency will check whether the accessories in use are branded or not — an important condition while claiming insurance.
In case of death due to explosion of gas cylinder, the victim has to appeal in the court demanding compensation. The court decides the amount of insurance according to age, salary and other conditions.
Shirking responsibility
Sources claim that the government, insurance companies and the gas agencies gain from your ignorance.
The claim was confirmed by a gas agency owner who said the information should be common knowledge since it is mentioned on the office notice board and it is mandatory to do so.
Interestingly, the gas agency did not have a notice board in its office.
The man also claimed that if a case is reported compensation is given. “However, no genuine cases have been found to give compensation as customer flout the norms,” he said, failing to mention the vital maintenance charges which would ensure consumers got their due!
For the government, sources claim, educating consumers would mean shelling out more money on a subsidised item. “Government loses Rs166 on each LPG cylinder. Around 6 lakhs cylinders are sold in Jaipur due to which the concerned agencies are least interested in spending on spreading the word. Advertising would mean they shell out more money... even if it for public welfare,” the source said.
IOC manager Dilip Dixit refused to comment.
Councillor Mohini Kanwar flayed the gas agencies and the government for not advertising information about the insurance cover available.
“Gas agencies have not even put a notice outside their office. How can the customer then become aware of such facts? The agencies must inform customers about the insurance cover and it norms. Had even one agency displayed this information several people in need would have benefited,” she said.
Turn to the court
Bhanwar Singh Chauhan, a senior advocate, confirmed that customers are insured from the time they buy an LPG connection. “If a customer is kept in the dark, they can complain about it in the consumer court and even file a petition against the agencies concerned for withholding the information,” he said.
Insurance agents said it is very easy to get the claim — informs cops and gas agency, wait for survey by insurance officials and soon you will get the claim amount.
क्या आप जानते हैं कि एलपीजी कनेक्शन के साथ आपको इंश्योरेंस का लाभ भी मिलता है। शायद नहीं। दस में आठ उपभोक्ताओं को यह नहीं पता, लेकिन आप जान लें कि एलपीजी कनेक्शन के साथ ही आपका बीमा हो जाता है। गैस सिलेंडर से दुर्घटना होने की स्थिति में आपको 10 से 25 लाख रुपए तक का क्लेम मिल सकता है। इतना ही नहीं सामूहिक दुर्घटना की स्थिति में क्लेम की राशि 50 लाख रुपए तक हो सकती है।
दुर्घटना के बाद इलाज का खर्च कंपनी उठाती है
एलपीजी के सिलेंडर से दुर्घटना होने की स्थिति में दुर्घटनाग्रस्त व्यक्ति के इलाज का सारा खर्च भी कंपनी को उठाना होता है। लेकिन प्रायोगिक रूप से ऐसा नहीं होता। जानकारी के अभाव में न तो उपभोक्ता इसकी सूचना कंपनी को देती है और न ही कंपनी इसमें किसी प्रकार की दिलचस्पी दिखाती है।
उपभोक्ताओं को नहीं दी जाती जानकारी
गैस कनेक्शन के साथ मिलने वाले बीमा की जानकारी उपभोक्ताओं को नहीं दी जाती है। नियमत: गैस एजेंसी संचालकों को चाहिए कि कनेक्शन लेने वाले उपभोक्ताओं को यह बात बताएं। यह अनिवार्य है। लेकिन, ऐसा नहीं किया जाता।
यह है प्रक्रिया
गैस सिलेंडर से दुर्घटना या उसमें मौत होने पर 24 घंटे में एजेंसी और स्थानीय थाने को सूचना देनी होती है। गैस एजेंसी से क्षेत्रीय कार्यालय और वहां से संबंधित बीमा कंपनी को खबर की जाती है। बीमा एजेंसी छानबीन कर बीमा की राशि उपलब्ध कराती है।
आवश्यक शर्तें
- एलपीजी कनेक्शन वैध होना चाहिए।
- एजेंसी द्वारा प्रदत्त पाइप और रेगुलेटर का इस्तेमाल होना चाहिए।
- जहां गैस का इस्तेमाल हो रहा हो, वह जगह संकीर्ण न हो।
- जिस जगह पर गैस का इस्तेमाल होता हो, वहां खुली बिजली का तार न हो।
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Source: http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/RAJ-JPR-lpg-cylinders-come-with-rs-40-lakh-risk-cover-3185659.html
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