Nearly 80,000 Govindas get Rs 10 lakh insurance cover for Dahi Handi festival in Maharashtra
Dahi Handi participants in Maharashtra, nearly 80,000 Govindas have been covered under insurance scheme. As per a TOI report, the state government has paid insurance sum of Rs 56 lakh to ensure the safety of govindas participating in this year's Dahi Handi festival, set to be celebrated on September 7.
Last year 36,500 govindas were insured before the festival.
The achievement was made possible through a collaborative effort involving the state government, a public sector insurance company, and the Dahi Handi Samanvay Samiti.
Sachin Khanvilkar, the manager of Oriental Insurance, the architect of this unique policy, told TOI, «As of September 5, we have insured an unprecedented total of 79,333 govindas. Each participant benefits from a generous Rs 10 lakh insurance cover, obtained at a nominal premium of just Rs 75.
The state has generously covered the premiums for 75,000 youths belonging to 983 dahi handi mandals, amounting to a sum of Rs 56.25 lakh. The remaining participants have been insured by their respective mandals.»
Notably, until Monday, 42 mandals had independently purchased policies for 2,820 of their members, and this number continued to rise on Tuesday.
Additionally, it is worth highlighting that 60 mandals from outside the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) have also taken advantage of this initiative, marking a significant milestone.
While most policy clauses are standard, one stands out: «The claim will be denied if the govinda is drunk. Intoxication not only endangers the individual player but also poses a threat to the stability of the human pyramid, potentially leading to a collapse,» cautioned Khanvilkar.
This comprehensive insurance policy became effective on Guru Purnima day, observed on July 3,
