Actor Adhikari first actor to receive health insurance facility

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 29: Actor Ram Chandra Adhikari has become the first actor  in Nepal to benefit from the health insurance scheme arranged by the Film Development Board.The government had earlier announced that it would provide health insurance facilities to artistes holding identity card of the 'special category'. 

As per the government decision, National Insurance Company has provided Rs. 46, 600 to actor Adhikari. Film Development Board chairman Bhuwan KC handed over the insurance amount to Adhikari at a programme held in Kathmandu on Wednesday. 

The board introduced the health insurance programme in accordance with its plan to provide various facilities to the film workers who have received the 'special’ identity card. 

Of 102 filmmakers who received the special identity card under this programme, 98 were insured.Technician Uddhav Raj Bhattarai, who participated in the insurance programme, passed away.

Likewise, Hari Prasad Rimal, writer and director Chetan Karki, artiste Subhadra Adhikari and technician Gehendra Dhimal, who had received the identity card of the 'special category’ died before the  implementation of the insurance programme.

Under the current insurance programme,   Rs. 65,000 will be provided for hospitalisation and treatment and up to Rs. 35,000 for non-admission and treatment.

Dharma Bhandari, the representative of the National Insurance Company, urged all the artistes who have received the special identity card to enjoy the insurance facility and to claim the insurance amount. 

He said that so far only actor Adhikari has made such a claim. He added that that the amount would be provided to the Film Development Board within 24 hours after artistes claimed for insurance amount.