It was one fine morning; Ms.Valli1 visited to People Mutuals2 with a clarification about an old-age mutual claim settlement. She narrated the problem as, a member Ms.Shanmugathai aged 65 is died on August 27, 2008 by falling in her home. The problem is she paid her contribution to Kalanjiam3 under mutual help programme on July 10, 2008. The Kalanjiam has settled the contribution in total of Rs.1350 totally for 9 members on July 11, 2008 in the next day of Kalanjiam meeting. However, the cluster has settled the contribution to federation mutuals account only on August 26, 2008 just previous day of the Ms.Shanmugathai’s death. It was happened in nature and not in the intention of getting the claim, because the death is occurred naturally which was not expected. Shall I proceed to settle the claim?
People Mutuals as usual said that the life mutual help programme is need to ensure the timely benefit to the affected member’s family. So, Ms.Valli may discuss this with the Board. If Board decides to settle the claim, you may proceed it soon. However, a field visit is required to ensure that the death is occurred by nature and not with any pre-existing illness or any.
In one fine morning, Mr.Siva, staff of People Mutuals went to Vaigai Vattara Kalanjiam. He has referred the details about Ms.Shanmugathai whatever available at the federation office (refer annex 1 – 6). There was a claim intimation letter dated August 27, 2008 written by Ms.Jeeva, representative of Karanthamalai Kalanjiam requesting that, Ms.Shanmugathai, one of Kalanjiam members was died to-day by falling and injury on head. Kindly sanction the old age benefit amount (Annex – 1).
One of the field-associates, Ms.Shanmuga Priya was given the following details about the member contribution and date (Annex – 2):
• Karanthamalai Kalanjiam is contributed to old age life mutual help programme for 9 members from the common fund
• Kalanjiam Meeting date was July 10, 2008
• Kalanjiam made payment to cluster account was July 11, 2008 Receipt No.154
• Cluster made payment to federation was August 26, 2008
• Ms.Shanmugathai joined in the Kalanjiam on December 10, 2007; While joining she has given her age as 58
• Ms.Shanmugathai was died on August 27, 2008
Then, he has taken one field associate Mr.Murugan and started to Usilampatti village. He stopped his vehicle in front of one tea shop. He also started to read newspaper in that shop as a common man in the village. There were one gent and three ladies namely, Ms.Selvi, Ms.Sellammal and Ms.Muniyammal (tea-shop owner). Siva started to discuss with the people who stands in that shop, as, ‘How many Kalanjiams are operating in this village?’, ‘Is there any other self help groups other than Kalanjiam? ‘, ‘How is the rain?’ etc. And later he asked, ‘What about Ms.Shanmugathai?’, ‘Where is her home?’, ‘How she died?’.
As he enquired one by one, we got the required details, as follows:
Ms.Shanmugathai was a member of Karantha Malai Kalanjiam in Usilampatti Village of Kavanoor cluster, Madurai. She was living with her son Mr.Durairasu’s family. In Karantha Malai Kalanjiam, there were 14 members. Due to conceptual problem, 3 members have left the kalanjiam in two years back. Ms.Muniyammal was also one among them. So, the representatives and other members decided to enroll new members for increasing the effective operation of group. So, four new members joined in the Kalanjiam with the consultation of field associate on December 10, 2007 as follows:
Name of new member Age4
Ms. Rajamani 30
Ms. Rukkumani 52
Ms. Chellammal 57
Ms. Shanmugathai 58
Ms.Selvi said that, I am also one of the members of this Kalanjiam. She died naturally in home. That day was happened to be a marriage in our village. So, all people were attending the marriage function. She was in home for cooking food. At the time of eating, she died. She was died very naturally. We also think that, if many people died like her means no one will worry about the death. She died with out any pain and sad.
For the time being, he has ordered tea and milk in that shop.
Ms.Muniyammal (shop owner) said, even though I did not know about her (since I am not in Kalanjiam), fortunately, I was seeing first time in my life about the very natural death. She was not even taken out her hand from the food plate. Siva asked, ‘Is there any kind of disease was prevailing with her?’. A gent who was smoking in that shop voluntarily came and said that, she is very old. There was no disease. Siva asked, ‘very old means, was she around 60?’. He replied, she should be approximately more than 65.
Finally, Siva introduced himself was that, we are from Kalanjiam and came here to give condolence to her family. But no body is there in home. Please convey our regards. They thanked the people and came back to federation.
Now Siva was under confusion. While coming in the vehicle, he asked the field associate about the benefit sharing. Is it a genuine case? How do you feel? Mr.Murugan – field associate said, yes sir, it is genuine case only. In letter, they might be written the actual situation since it is written on the day itself. But in village areas, they may feel shy to say that, she has fallen and died. So, that might be a reason for changing the cause of death.
‘See Mr.Murugan, cause of death was not at all a matter here. What is the concept behind the old age life mutual help programme? What is the policy of enrolling a member in to the scheme?’ Siva replied.
The field associate expressed that, here people are very poor and we need to support them. We should sanction the claim immediately sir.
Reached the federation office…. with lot more questions….
Siva asked photo-copy of the ration card of Ms.Shanmugathai, in which it was surprisingly stated that, her age was 65 at 2005 (Annex – 3). Then, her age at the time of death is 68. So, she joined in Kalanjiam at the age of 67. But the age was given at the time of joining in the Kalanjiam was only 58.
As on August 10, 2008 members’ savings and loan confirmation statement (Annex – 4), Ms.Shanmugathai was not having credit transaction from the date of joining in the Kalanjiam. She has just contributed Rs.100 towards primary savings which is compulsory in Kalanjiam. More than that, she has not contributed any thing. The premium contribution also was made from the common fund of the Kalanjiam which is also referring only 9 members in which Ms.Shanmugathai may or may not be.
Siva was waiting to meet the Managing Director. Ms.Valli – Managing Director was in field and expected to come soon. There was an associate looking slightly expecting to ask something to him. He called her and asked, ‘do you know anything about the member Ms.Shanmugathai?’. ‘Yes’ – she replied boldly. She also expected, ‘whether the benefit will be settled or not sir?’. Siva asked her, repeating the same question to her. She replied that, ‘the old age life mutual programme’ concept is emerged out of safeguarding the old age of people of our Kalanjiam programme. As on March 2006, VVK has 220 Kalanjiams in 88 villages with 3958 members. Among the 3958, 171 are people aged above 60 (Annex – 5). The existing Kalanjiam members soon after become older and older. So, we would like to give a futuristic way through this old age life mutual help programme. Whereas here Ms.Shanmugathai is enrolled just 8 months back though the member was having around 60 years. She would have joined in our Kalanjiam during 2001 or after, when we formed groups in Usilampatti village. But she joined only now. It might be because of old age life mutual programme. If it is a case, all old people may join and get benefited out of our existing members’ contribution.
The discussion was interestingly going on. Ms.Valli, Managing Director also came and joined. Discussion started with Ms.Valli and shared the field visit programme. Siva asked, ‘Madam, what is your opinion in settling the benefit?’. Ms.Valli replied with very tired tone, ‘see sir, everything has happened with procedures. No deviation. Already our Kalanjiams are getting reduced due to other NGOs, Government’s subsidy schemes etc. If we don’t sanction the benefit to Ms.Shanmugathai, our federation will suffer a lot for sustaining the remaining groups. As of now, we have sanctioned only two benefits to the members for last two years. Still we have more reserves for granting the benefit.
The procedure is that, the contribution was reached the federation mutuals account on or before the day of death, the claim procedure was also well done with proper intimation letter and channels, the cluster and federation board members also approves the claim, the federation MD was also favorably in sanctioning the benefit soon.
Now, Should Siva recommend the benefit or not?
1. Ms.Valli is a Managing Director of Vaigai Vattara Kalanjiam, a federation of women self help groups.
2. People Mutuals is a social security initiative of DHAN Foundation which use to give technical guidance and facilitate for reinsurance mechanism to all mutual locations.
3. Kalanjiam is a women self help group promoted by DHAN Foundation. Kalanjiam is a Tamil word means a pot used for saving food grains for future.
4. The age of members’ details collected from the minutes book of Karanthamalai Kalanjiam.
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