Finance Ministry asks public sector banks, LIC to help people in Tamil Nadu

NEW DELHI: The finance ministry has asked public sector banks and state-owned insurers to extend facilitation including swifter processing of insurance claims in the flood hit Tamil Nadu.

The instructions comes after PM Narendra Modi's visit to the state and announcement of Rs 1000 crore package.

"It is imperative that all steps be taken to extend every possible facilitation to the affected people who are insured persons/nominees and may have been injured/lost their lives/property due to this disaster," a statement by department of financial services under the finance ministry said late Thursday.

The banks are requested to ensure that ATMs are functional and in places where they are not, alternative mechanisms like mobile ATM, ATM vans and mobile ATMs mounted on boats may be used, it said.

The banks may also put their employees’ alongwith laptops to facilitate withdrawals in localities themselves, it added.

It is also directed that as banks are implementing Agency for Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Suraksha BimaYojna and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan JyotiBimaYojana, the banks are required to appoint a Nodal Officer for each bank as a whole as well as for specific Districts and their telephone numbers be publicized so that the general public is aware as to whom should they contactBanks should immediately put in place this mechanism.