MAM
DAVP needs more funds to publicise govt schemes
NEW DELHI: An allocation of Rs. 1.232 billion has been made at the budget estimate stage for the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) despite its requirement of Rs 1.8 billion for broad themes like financial inclusion, skilling India for youth led development, Swachh Bharat, welfare of farmers etc.
Noting this, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology which also examines issues relating to Information and Broadcasting Ministry recommended that the Ministry should seek adequate funds for the Scheme so that the objectives of this Scheme are met effectively to adequately publicize the broad themes.
The DAVP was also asked to make “vigorous efforts” to recover the outstanding dues with the Ministries/Departments and asked the Ministry to give priority to local newspapers/periodicals in all its publicity campaigns/advertisements so that vernacular dialect can help local people better understand the important Schemes of the Government.
DAVP had sought and obtained increased funding for two of its Plan Schemes – “People’s Empowerment through Development Communication” implemented through the DCID Scheme; and “Media Infrastructure Development Programme”.
Under the Scheme of People’s Empowerment through Development Communication, an allocation of Rs 1.256 billion was made at BE 2016-17, which increased to Rs 1.6968 billion at revised estimates stage. However, only Rs 1.1883 billion was utilized during 2016-17, as the additional funds of Rs 440.9 million had been made available in January 2017 after RE was approved.
The Committee noted the Government had revised the Print Media Advertisement Policy 2016 with effect from 7 June last year in order to incentivise those newspapers which get their circulation verification from ABC/RNI, have their own printing presses, adopt welfare measures by subscribing their employees to EPF and have better professional standing; and to bring about better transparency and accountability in release of advertisement.
The Ministry had constituted a three-member Committee on 6 April 2016 to oversee the implementation of Supreme Court guidelines on all forms of Government advertisements released by Central Government, State Governments and UTs.
The Committee stressed that the Ministry should continue with this exercise of weeding out of irregular Newspapers/Magazines in quick interval so that appreciable savings are accrued to the exchequer.
Media wise expenditure for Financial Years 2014-15 and 2015-16 in r/o Advertisement of various Ministries/Departments routed through DAVP
(Rs in billion – bn – or million – mn)
|
Financial Year
|
Print Media
|
Audio-Visual
|
Printed Publicity
|
Outdoor Publicity
|
Exhibition
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014-15
|
4.2484 bn
|
4.7367 bn
|
128 mn
|
812.7 mn
|
57.6 mn
|
|
2015-16
|
5.0822 bn
|
5.3160 bn
|
157.6 mn
|
1.2034 bn
|
12.93 mn
|
Also Read :
DD invites short films on Govt schemes, ‘DAVP producers’ preferred
Give more funds to DAVP for empowering people: Parliamentary Committee
Buying family medical insurance online in India has become a common option for individuals who want to secure health coverage for multiple family members under a single policy. However, many buyers are unsure about the exact steps involved in selecting and purchasing the right plan online.
In this guide, you will know the step-by-step process of buying family medical insurance online in India, along with the key factors to review before purchasing a suitable policy.
Step 1: Assess Your Family’s Healthcare Needs
Before buying online health insurance, check the healthcare needs of all family members. Check age, existing illnesses, regular medicines, and the likely need for hospital care later. This helps in selecting a suitable sum insured, policy type, and level of cover. It also reduces the chance of buying a plan that appears suitable but does not meet actual medical needs.
Step 2: Visit the Insurance Company’s Official Website
After understanding the family’s needs, visit the insurer’s official website and read the plan details carefully. Use the official platform to review eligibility, policy wording, waiting periods, cover details, exclusions, and renewal terms.
This step gives a clearer understanding of how the policy works before payment is made. It also helps avoid confusion caused by incomplete summaries on other pages.
Step 3: Compare Available Family Health Insurance Plans
A family medical insurance policy should be compared on factors beyond the premium. Review the sum insured, hospital network, room rent limits, pre- and post-hospitalisation cover, daycare treatment coverage, and waiting periods. It is also important to check treatment sub-limits and specific policy conditions.
Careful comparison helps determine whether a plan provides balanced coverage and whether its terms are suitable for the healthcare needs of the entire family.
Step 4: Choose the Right Policy and Start the Online Purchase
Once the options have been compared, select the policy that best fits the family’s medical needs and budget. Before starting the application, review the covered members, policy term, benefits, and main conditions again. This is an important stage because errors here can lead to the wrong cover amount, an unsuitable variant, or missing details that create problems during policy use.
Step 5: Calculate the Premium Using an Online Calculator
Use the online premium calculator before making the final choice. Enter the correct details, including age, city, number of insured members, and selected cover amount. The result helps in understanding the expected premium and whether the policy fits the annual budget. This step is useful because it allows cost and coverage to be reviewed together, instead of choosing a plan only because the premium looks lower.
Step 6: Fill in Personal and Medical Details
When filling in the proposal form, provide accurate details for each insured member. This includes name, date of birth, contact details, medical history, ongoing treatment, and previous insurance information if required.
Every answer should be complete and truthful. Incorrect or missing details can create difficulty later. Before you submit the form, read every section again and correct any mistakes.
Step 7: Make Payment Through the Secure Payment Gateway
After checking the form, go to the payment page and complete the transaction through the secure payment gateway. Review the premium, policy term, and entered details once more before confirming payment.
After the transaction is completed, save the receipt, reference number, or confirmation message carefully. Keeping this record is useful if you need to track the purchase or follow up on policy issuance later.
Step 8: Download and Keep Your Policy Document Safely
Once the policy is issued, download the policy document, schedule, and any related papers without delay. Read them carefully to confirm member names, policy period, sum insured, and major terms. Save a digital copy in a secure folder and keep a printed copy if needed. Proper record keeping makes future renewals, document checks, and policy servicing easier and more organised when information is required quickly.
Conclusion
Buying health cover online becomes easier when you handle each step with attention. From checking your family’s needs to reading the final document, every stage helps you make an informed choice. A careful approach can reduce mistakes, improve your understanding of policy terms, and help you choose coverage that matches your household’s medical needs, financial capacity, and long-term healthcare planning in a reliable way for your family over the long term.
