KARACHI, Jan 17: The Sindh government has amended the Sindh Civil Servants Welfare Fund Rules-1979 enhancing the sum assured in respect of group insurance scheme and coverage for five years after retirement.

A notification issued by the finance department says that as per amendment "every civil servant shall contribute towards the fund a sum of Rs 3.75 only per annum per thousand rupees of the sum which he is insured, provided that 50 per cent of the contribution in respect of a civil servant in BPS-1 to 15 shall be made by the government.

The amount of existing sum assured (before July 1, 2002) and on enhancement of sum assured (from July 1, 2002) are as under:

BPS-1 to 4 (existing Rs20,000, enhanced Rs120,000); BPS-5 to 10 (existing Rs25000, enhanced Rs140,000); BPS-11 to 15 (existing Rs50,000, enhanced Rs240,000); BPS-16 (existing Rs75,000, enhanced Rs360,000); BPS-17 (existing Rs100,000, enhanced Rs480,000); BPS-18 (existing Rs150,000, enhanced Rs700,000); BPS-19 (existing Rs175,000, enhanced Rs840,000) BPS-20 (existing Rs200,000, enhanced Rs10,00,000).

Apart from the enhancement of the sum assured, the coverage shall continue to remain extended to five years after the retirement. The government servants retiring on or after July 1, 2002, shall be covered for the revised enhanced sums while those retired on or before June 30, 2002, shall be covered for the previous sums assured.

The annual and monthly premium for the revised assured sums in respect of different categories of the employees of the Sindh government from July 1, 2002, shall be as follows:

BPS-1 to 4 (annual premium Rs450, monthly premium Rs37.50); BPS-5 to 10 (annual Rs525, monthly Rs43.75); BPS-11 to 15 (annual Rs900, monthly Rs75.00); BPS-16 (annual Rs1350, monthly Rs112.50); BPS-17 (annual Rs1,800, monthly Rs150); BPS-18 (annual Rs2625, monthly Rs218.75); BPS-19 (annual Rs3,150, monthly Rs262.50; BPS-20 (annual Rs3750, monthly 312.50.

As regards government employees from BPS-1 to 15, the 50 per cent of the premium will be paid by the government of Sindh and the balance premium per month shall be deducted from their monthly salary. The government employees from BPS-16 and above shall pay total premium per month from their salaries.

The heads of departments have been asked to ensure that apart from the cases of death during the service, claims of retired government servants may also be lodged with State Life Insurance Corporation in case death occurs within five years after retirement applicable from July 1, 2002.

For entertaining a claim of group insurance in respect of member, the following documents will be required: death certificate of the deceased employee in original or attested copy issued by the competent authority - Services Hospital, government hospitals, semi-government hospitals, railway hospitals and trust hospitals.

Where the above mentioned hospitals do not exist, the certificate issued by the any tier of local government or their substitute or by the SHO or any such authority of the area will be accepted on case-to-case basis on merit.

Duly completed death claim forms B & C as set down in Sindh Civil Servants Welfare Fund Rules 1980 prescribed for gazette and non- gazetted employees respectively, if their respective nominations are available on record as per Form-A as prescribed under the said rules. If there is no nomination available on record in respect of both categories, another Form-D will be required. All such forms are required to be submitted duly signed by the concerned office or departmental head.

The succession certificate from the competent court of law is required if there is no family member and or surviving relative available; if the nominee dies after death of the deceased employee.

If there is a dispute amongst the legal heirs and there is a valid nomination, claim will be settled in favour of the nominee.-PPI