Bengaluru: The implementation failure of two crucial social security schemes Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) across 12 districts in Karnataka has exposed glaring administrative apathy and lack of political will within the state government. Despite these schemes being designed to provide affordable life and accident insurance to the most vulnerable sections, their poor performance reflects systemic negligence that cannot be overlooked.
Data presented in the recent State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) meeting, based on statistics available as of December 31, 2025, paints a worrying picture. The committee expressed dissatisfaction over the slow and unsatisfactory progress in districts including Kalaburagi, Bengaluru Urban, Bidar, Yadgir, Koppal, Vijayanagara, Kolar, Chitradurga, Chikkaballapur, Bengaluru South, Raichur, and Tumakuru. Notably, Kalaburagi—the home district of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge—features prominently on this list, raising serious questions about accountability at the highest levels.
The Finance Department has also stepped in, issuing a stern communication to district commissioners of these regions. A copy of this correspondence reveals clear concern over the sluggish enrollment rates and poor outreach efforts. When compared to districts like Udupi, which has achieved 87 per cent coverage under PMSBY, and Gadag, which has recorded 42 per cent coverage under PMJJBY, the underperforming districts lag significantly behind state averages.
Statewide, PMJJBY has achieved only about 28 per cent coverage, while PMSBY stands at around 52 per cent. However, performance in the 12 identified districts falls even below these modest averages, underscoring a deep-rooted implementation crisis. The Finance Department has rightly termed this situation “serious” and has warned officials against further delay or negligence.
What makes this failure particularly alarming is the nature of these schemes. PMJJBY offers a life insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh for a nominal annual premium of Rs 436, ensuring financial protection to families in the event of the subscriber’s death. Similarly, PMSBY provides accident insurance coverage of Rs 2 lakh for death or total disability and Rs 1 lakh for partial disability, at a negligible annual premium of Rs 20. These schemes are not just welfare initiatives—they are lifelines for economically weaker sections who cannot afford private insurance.
Yet, despite their affordability and importance, the enrollment process in these districts has been “extremely slow,” as noted by the Finance Department. A review meeting held on February 17, 2026, reiterated the urgency of corrective measures. Officials have been directed to increase coverage by at least 5 per cent of the eligible population by the end of March 2026 and surpass the state average. However, such directives raise a critical question: why was timely action not taken earlier?
The answer appears to lie in a combination of administrative inertia, poor interdepartmental coordination, and a lack of grassroots awareness campaigns. The state government’s failure to collaborate effectively with banks, local bodies, and field-level officers has left eligible beneficiaries out of these vital schemes.
Moreover, the absence of proactive leadership has compounded the issue. Welfare schemes require sustained monitoring, regular review, and accountability mechanisms—none of which seem to have been adequately enforced in these districts. Instead, the situation reflects a reactive approach, in which action is taken only after data exposes shortcomings.
