Coronavirus: India Posts extends last date for premium payment

• Directorate of Postal Life Insurance has given an extension of the period for payment of their due premium of March 2020, April 2020 and May 2020 upto June 30, 2020

• The Department has advised customers registered on the portal to pay premium online using PLI customer portal

New Delhi: In view of the fact that India is under lockdown to contain the spread of Coronavirus, India Posts has extended the last date of paying a premium for PLI (Postal Life Insurance) and RPLI (Rural Postal Life Insurance) till June 30. The postal department said on Saturday there is a complete lockdown in view of the threat posed by the outbreak of Coronavirus and central/state governments have issued several advisories and imposed restrictions on the movement of the general public.

"As a measure of convenience to all the PLI / RPLI customers, Directorate of Postal Life Insurance has given an extension of period for payment of their due premium of March 2020, April 2020 and May 2020 upto June 30, 2020 without charging any penalty/default fee," India Posts said in a statement.

India Posts customers facing difficulty in approaching post offices

"PLI and RPLI customers are facing difficulty in approaching post offices for payment of premia, inspite of the fact that many Post Offices are functional as part of essential services. The decision has been taken because The Department has advised Customers registered on portal to pay premium online using PLI customer Portal," the statement said.

Official data showed that there were 64.

62 lakh PLI (Postal Life Insurance) policies and 2.5 crore lakh RPLI (Rural Postal Life Insurance) active in March.

The backdrop

The benefits of PLI were earlier available to government and semi-government employees and it was extended to professionals and employees of listed companies of NSE (National Stock Exchange) and BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) in October 2017.

Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) scheme was introduced in 1995 for the benefit of rural populace to extend insurance cover to people living in rural areas, with a special emphasis on weaker sections and women workers.

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