AGARTALA, March 17(TIWN): The Tripura Life Insurance Agents under the banner of Life Insurance Agents’ Federation of India (LIAFI) on Tuesday staged mass sit in- demonstration raising various demands at Paradise Chowmuhani, Agartala. However, the agents warned that if their demands were not settled before March 31st, they will plan for Central Office gherao.

Briefing the details of the mass-in- demonstration and agitation programme, the federation told that they had started the protest movement from January 16th. But due to the failure of their demands, they today seated in mass sit-in - demonstration. The details of the agitation programme is boycott of all official meetings except club conventions, boycott of all green channel dates, black badge demonstration with slogans in front of Branch offices, conducts meeting in all branches, agents procession in all Branch Head Quarters and Memorandums be submitted to Members of Parliament wherever possible. Demonstration at Divisional Offices and Agents’ rest day.

The prime demands of the federation are:

1. To exclude premium from service tax

2. To increase the bonus of policy holder.

3. To regulate IRDA based commission.

4. To exclude Escalation Clause

5. To introduce new plan and strategies.

6. To increase gratuity.

7. To increase the amount of Group Insurance.

Earlier, the LIC agents comprised of its members under the banner of Life Insurance Agents’ Federation of India (LIAFI) staged a sit in demonstration across the state in front of all the branch offices pressing various demands including seeking the restoration of Section­44 of Insurance Act 1938. The agitating members staging a sit in demonstration in front of all the branch offices called for ensuring the welfare of LIC agents through legislation besides refraining from introducing direct selling of policies.

They also called to withdraw of service tax from the existing LIC policy. The agitators also called for ensuring certain demands like – Pension, Gratuity, and Medi­claim for all agents, etc. The protestors during the sit in demonstration also pressed for ensuring the deduction of FPI from NBG, and called to start a welfare fund for the all the agents. They also protested the withdrawn of education clause in regard of Club membership.