The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has acknowledged a complaint stating that individuals with hearing and speech impairments are being deprived of life insurance benefits as insurance companies are declining coverage to them. This issue has raised concerns about discriminatory practices in the insurance sector. In response, the NHRC, under the leadership of Priyank Kanoongo, has sent a notice to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to investigate and address the situation promptly.
The Commission has instructed the IRDAI to provide a detailed response within 15 days regarding the denial of life insurance benefits to persons with hearing and speech disabilities. Additionally, a copy of the notice has been shared with the Ministry of Finance for their awareness and necessary actions. This action is part of NHRC’s broader initiative to tackle discrimination faced by individuals with disabilities.
NHRC’s recent actions are part of its ongoing efforts to address issues related to discrimination against persons with disabilities. The Commission has previously discussed concerns regarding the re-verification and re-assessment of disability certificates, which could impact access to employment, benefits, and underwriting practices for non-life-threatening impairments.
In January this year, the NHRC organized a meeting focusing on ‘Human rights violations emerging from re-verification and re-assessment of certificates of government employees with disabilities.’ The meeting highlighted the risks associated with mass re-assessments of disability certificates, emphasizing the need for specific and evidence-based assessments. The NHRC recommended against blanket medical re-assessments for all employees with disabilities and suggested using the Unique Disability ID digital framework for verification.
The recommendations also proposed applying the government’s advisory or standard operating procedures prospectively for new applicants rather than retrospectively. Safeguards such as providing written reasons for scrutiny, offering individuals a chance to respond, ensuring timely decisions, and establishing appeal mechanisms were discussed. The Commission aims to balance administrative oversight with the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, ensuring fairness without causing undue hardship to beneficiaries with irreversible disabilities.
