Rly official, doctor pal buy health cover for 1K conservancy workers

Chennai: Ever since Covid-19 cases started spiking in India since April, many citizens have expressed their gratitude to frontline workers by clanging vessels, lighting lamps, clapping or by showering petals. In Chennai, a railway official and his doctor friend in Kerala have tread a different path. They have bought a health insurance policy for 1,172 conservancy workers who are working on contract basis across Chennai railway division.

B Illangovan, who is additional divisional railway manager (ADRM-1) in Chennai division, and his friend Dr S Manoharan from Kollam, did the good deed. Though the policy premium costs just Rs 160 per person, the conservancy worker would get a payout of Rs 25,000 if he/she gets Covid-19 infection. This will be useful as contract workers are paid daily wages and will lose their salary if hospitalised.

Speaking to TOI, Illangovan said he first chanced upon this idea when he was reading about the ‘adopt a healthcare worker’ scheme in Australia. “The scheme is to help doctors, nurses and conservancy workers in any way possible. Like say, getting them fruits or dropping their kids at school,” he said.

When he suggested this idea to a group of friends on Facebook, he got a resounding response, especially from Dr Manoharan, who readily agreed. Illangovan started from his home turf, the railway colony. “Though they may not die if they get Covid-19, the conservancy staff face discrimination. They would lose their salary,” he said.

He got a list of the workers from the environment and medical departments of railways, which handles cleaning work in stations and colonies. What started off with getting health cover for 10-12 workers, has now ended with the duo buying insurance for more than a 1,000, spending close to Rs 1 lakh from their own pockets.

This has caught on now. S M Vasu, a chief ticket inspector (CTI) in Chennai division and a volunteer at help4covidTN, an organisation delivering relief, has started buying insurance for house-helps. “I have helped 26 workers so far,” he said.