Thiruvananthapuram: Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar has announced a comprehensive insurance package for permanent employees of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). The scheme, rolled out in collaboration with the State Bank of India (SBI), will benefit all 22,095 permanent KSRTC employees.

Speaking to the media, the minister said that the government has entered into an agreement with SBI, which already provides an overdraft facility to ensure salary disbursal on the first of every month, to extend insurance coverage as well.

Under the scheme, the family of an employee who dies in an accident will receive ₹1 crore as insurance coverage. Those who suffer permanent total disability will also receive ₹1 crore, while employees with permanent partial disability will be entitled to ₹80 lakh.

At present, 1,688 workers earn between ₹10,000 and ₹25,000; 19,122 employees earn between ₹25,000 and ₹50,000; and 1,274 employees earn above ₹1 lakh.

For employees earning more than ₹25,000, the family will receive ₹6 lakh in case of natural death. Importantly, the minister clarified that employees will not be required to pay any premium for the insurance.

The scheme will come into effect from June 4. Employees will also be able to include up to four family members under the coverage—either spouse and two children or parents.