Government inks agreement with LIC, recruiting rural females for insurance agency roles, offering financial gain and inexpensive insurance options for the masses
The Bima Sakhi initiative, a partnership aimed at economic empowerment of women, has been making strides in India since its launch on December 9, 2024. This government-backed programme, launched by the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), is set to scale up its reach across the country with the help of state governments, skill development missions, and rural communities.
The Bima Sakhi scheme is designed to promote financial inclusion, increase women’s participation in the workforce, and expand access to life insurance services in rural and semi-urban areas. By enabling rural women to become licensed life insurance agents (Mahila Career Agents), the initiative seeks to transform them into micro-entrepreneurs within their villages.
Key benefits of the scheme include generating livelihood and financial independence for women. Bima Sakhis are offered new income opportunities through commissions and a performance-based monthly stipend, starting at ₹7,000 in the first year and decreasing to ₹5,000 in the third year. The scheme also offers a defined career progression, with graduate Bima Sakhis able to apply to become LIC Apprentice Development Officers after five years, subject to eligibility.
The localized, flexible insurance network established through the Bima Sakhi scheme is expected to improve affordable insurance accessibility in underserved communities. The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) plays a central role in the scheme’s implementation, appointing Bima Sakhis as official agents, disbursing the stipend and commissions, providing training, and facilitating career advancement opportunities.
The Bima Sakhi initiative has already shown promising results. In the financial year 2024–25, LIC disbursed ₹62.36 crore in stipends under this initiative, with over 2 lakh women enrolled as Bima Sakhis as of mid-2025. The initiative is expected to boost the involvement of women in the rural workforce, promote financial independence among women, and create new income opportunities.
The Bima Sakhi initiative aligns with the Indian government’s broader goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and “Insurance for All by 2047”. The programme, which was first published on July 25, 2025, is expected to transform into a nationwide movement, contributing significantly to the economic empowerment of rural women and the overall development of India.
- As part of its efforts towards economic empowerment, the Bima Sakhi initiative, a government-backed programme, is working to promote health-and-wellness in the workplace by training rural women as licensed life insurance agents.
- The Bima Sakhi scheme, while providing income and financial independence, is also helping to improve health-and-wellness in women by offering them new career opportunities in the field of science and finance.
- By scaling up its reach and creating a localized, flexible insurance network, the Bima Sakhi initiative aims to enhance workplace-wellness and women's health in underserved communities, contributing to the broader goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat and "Insurance for All by 2047".
