With competition intensifying from private sector oil companies and modern retail as well as ecommerce companies poaching petrol pump attendants and gas cylinder delivery boys, public sector oil major Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has offered a unique health and accident insurance scheme for the employees of its franchisees to ensure that they remain loyal.
Drivers and helpers working for the transporters, who are engaged in transporting petroleum products for franchisees, are also covered under this scheme. “We have launched Bharat Arogya Yojana, a health and personal accident insurance scheme for employees of our business partners, who are employed for more than three years. They may not be our direct employees but are the crucial linkage to our relationship with our customers. We were looking at how to enhance the quality of life of this community, how they would respond to our customers needs differently,” S. Varadarajan, Chairman and Managing Director, BPCL told The Hindu.
“We wanted them to remain loyal. If they have to go for hospitalisation, it puts huge finance load on them. One hospitalisation takes away their earning of a year or two. So we decided to provide health cover of Rs.1 lakh for the individual and the family and a personal accident cover of up to Rs.2 lakh. We are providing cash less cards which can be used at 6,000 hospitals across the country,” Mr. Varadarajan said.
Over one lakh people will be covered under this scheme which has been launched in collaboration with New India Assurance.
The scheme will be launched across India in the next 12 to 18 months.
Bharat Petroleum may extend this scheme to all employees working for franchisees, irrespective of the years they have put in. Other oil companies are likely to will follow.
