Bengaluru: In a move aimed at strengthening social security for government employees, the Karnataka government has decided to make term insurance mandatory for all doctors, officers, and staff under the Medical Education and Skill Development Department. The announcement was made on Sunday by Sharan Prakash Patil, the minister in charge of the medical education portfolio.

The decision comes in the wake of the death of IAS officer Mahantesh Bilagi in a road accident last month. Following his death, a technical oversight in the term insurance system resulted in his family receiving nearly ₹50 lakh less than the entitled amount. According to Minister Patil, the discrepancy occurred because the officer had not updated his service status in the term insurance system after being promoted from the State Civil Services to the IAS, which directly affected the insurance payout.

“This issue came to notice during a governing council meeting of a medical college, where it was found that the officer had not updated his service status. The lapse had significant financial consequences for the bereaved family,” Patil said in a statement.

Mandatory Enrollment and Coverage

Taking serious note of the incident, Patil directed the Additional Chief Secretary to issue a circular mandating all employees in medical colleges and hospitals—including doctors, officers, and staff—to enrol in term insurance schemes commensurate with their current salary and designation. The objective is to ensure that in the event of an employee’s death, the family receives the full insurance cover they are entitled to.

The minister highlighted that many employees, particularly those in lower pay scales, may not have opted for adequate term insurance due to financial constraints or lack of awareness. To address this, officials have been instructed to engage leading banks and insurance companies to offer comprehensive term insurance plans at affordable premiums.

Broader Social Security Measures

Patil further noted that the department would examine the feasibility of extending term insurance benefits to contract employees, aiming to broaden social security coverage across all tiers of the workforce.

In addition, the minister announced a related initiative to enhance employment fairness and continuity in medical institutions. Experienced and meritorious outsourced employees may be considered for absorption into contract positions, in strict adherence to the reservation roster. Instead of recruiting fresh candidates to fill temporary vacancies, eligible outsourced personnel with proven experience may be absorbed into the contract category, ensuring both continuity of service and fair employment practices.

By making term insurance mandatory and streamlining contract employment procedures, Karnataka aims to safeguard employees and their families while also improving operational efficiency in the state’s medical education sector.