In a landmark development, reflecting corporate assistance for the legal community, several of India’s top industrialists have joined hands to fund an Rs 50 crore group health insurance scheme for members of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). According to the Bar and Bench report, the scheme is the first large-scale welfare initiative for lawyers headed by India’s business elite.
SCBA President and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who headed the campaign, has personally approached the business leaders to obtain the contributions. Among those who have contributed are the Dhirubhai Ambani family, Lakshmi Mittal, Gautam Adani, Vedanta Group, Anil Ambani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, and Torrent Group. Each of them has donated between Rs 5 to Rs 10 crore, and the Ambani family has made the highest contribution of Rs 10 crore. ”This isn’t just a policy-it’s a lifeline,” Sibal stated, highlighting how the plan addresses the urgent need for health protection among young and experienced lawyers too.
Health insurance scheme features for SCBA members
- Rs 2 lakh coverage for every family and insurance coverage has now been extended to parents and in-laws.
- Rs 50,000 maternity benefit for normal and C-section deliveries.
- Cashless treatment in more than 15,000 hospitals in India.
- There will be no waiting period for pre-existing conditions.
- Coverage of congenital conditions, Lasik eye surgery, and ambulance charges.
The insurance plan is totally free for SCBA members, funded through these corporate contributions and managed by the association.
The announcement was made during a grand event in which a commemorative volume was also released on ”Pillars of Justice” which includes significant Supreme Court rulings. The book includes essays from lawyers like Rahul Narayan, Gautam Bhatia, and Tanvi Anand.
Sibal mentioned that the book is for young academics for reading, critique, and evolving legal thinking.