How to Monsoon-Proof Your Properties in India?

Do you know how much a changing monsoon is changing India? A few weeks ago it was a thirsty land of burning temperature, and now there are rain spells everywhere leaving homes and commercials floating.

While India is used to seeing monsoons as a blessing for all these years, the rain gods have ditched Chennai, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and many other areas of the country with fatal flooding episodes of late. It is further shocking to find India at the top in Verisk Maplecroft list of world’s riskiest place due to natural disasters.

Slashed by heavy monsoon and associated disasters like landslides and floods, people are increasingly depending on insurance solutions to make their economy less exposed. Though not a common practice among homeowners in the country, the low cost of Indian flood insurance policies make it more buyable. Let’s take a closer look at the two most important domestic properties that must be chosen for insurance against flood - Homes and Cars.

Insurance helps you protect your assets and property even in the case of natural calamities. There are several Home Insurance products from which one can buy the most suitable product. If you wish to safeguard your home and car in situations like flood and landslide, you need to buy an insurance policy with utmost care. There are several add-ons being offered by different companies, but one must know to pick the ones that benefit them the most. 

Here are a few essential add-ons to be bought along with any car insurance policy you may buy:

1. Engine protector add-on will cover against engine damages due to leakage of lubricating oil, damage to gear box or water ingression. The Engine Protector also covers consequential damage to the engine due to any of these reasons.
2. Return to invoice plan can cover the lag between the insured value of your car and its invoice value. This add-on is very useful if you encounter a Total Loss when the repairs to the damages would be more expensive than replacing the vehicle. The insurance company will repay the full amount that you paid originally during the time of purchasing   the vehicle.
3. With the Zero depreciation add-on, you can enjoy a cover with no depreciation. This is applicable only for new cars and can be extended till the car turns 5 years old.
4. Consumables like Oils, Coolant, Grease etc. are changed due to an accident are covered under this.
5. Key Replacement can be availed if the vehicle’s keys were lost or stolen. This add-on covers the cost paid to the locksmith or towards replacing the locks.

For any clarifications on Car Insurance Companies or suggestions on Cheap Car Insurance quotes, feel free to get in touch with us on the toll- free number 1800-1035-569 or drop an email to helpdesk@futurisk.in

 

A Home Insurance product would only cover the structure of the house by default. Unless you safeguard your household items with add-ons, the items inside your dwelling are not covered by the regular Home Insurance Plans.

Here is a comprehensive listing of various add-on to help you get an optimal coverage:
Fire and Allied Perils Contents (excluding terrorism)

Section I - Fire & Allied Perils

Coverage for your building and its contents, belongings and your family members who reside permanently with you.

Allied Perils includes fire, lightening, explosion of gas in domestic appliances, bursting and overflowing of water tanks, apparatus or pipes, damage caused by aircraft, riot, strike, malicious or terrorist act, earthquake, fire and/or shock, subsidence and landslide or rockslide damage, flood, inundation, storm, tempest, typhoon, hurricane, tornado or cyclone impact damage

Section II - Burglary & House Breaking offers coverage for contents of your dwelling in the event of loss or damage due to burglary, house breaking, larceny or theft.

Section III - All Risks (Jewelry & Valuables)

Coverage for loss or damage to your jewelry and other valuables due to accidents or misfortunes while being kept, worn or carried anywhere within India.

Section IV - Plate Glass

Coverage for loss or damage to fixed plate glasses in the premises that you have insured due to accidents.

Section V - Breakdown of Domestic Appliances

Coverage for unexpected physical damage to domestic appliances in your insured dwelling because of mechanical or electrical breakdown.

Section VI - T.V. Set including VCP/VCR

Coverage for loss or damage to Television Set including due to fire and allied perils, burglary, house breaking or theft, breakage due to accidental external means, mechanical or electrical breakdown. This add-on also covers any legal liability that arises out of injury or accidental death of an individual other than your family members caused by use of the television set.

Section VII - Pedal Cycles

Covers any loss or damage to the pedal cycles in your insured dwelling due to Fire & allied perils, burglary, housebreaking, theft, accidental external means.

Section VII - Baggage Insurance

Coverage for loss or damage of your baggage by accident or misfortune you travel within India.

For any clarifications on Home Insurance Companies or suggestions on Cheap Home Insurance quotes, feel free to get in touch with our experts.

 

The willingness to go for a comprehensive flood cover requires quick exponential progress, as Indian subcontinent may face ruthless monsoons recurrently in the future due to the greenhouse effect and associated climatic changes. 

If you do nothing, you might end up sloshing around smelly carpets, soaked furniture, moldy walls, damaged appliances and ruined electronics. Farmers on the other hand lament over their drowning crops even now though the government has extended $1.3bn worth crop insurance scheme for insuring crops for a meager premium.

With heavy monsoon showers, many of us have to drive our cars through floods and stagnant water. Apart from shorted-out electrics and bad roads, there is a risk of the engine sucking in water which, being incompressible, will spoil connecting rods, pistons, and the crankshafts. So here is what you should do while driving through roads that are getting flooded rapidly during sudden downpours.

1. It is not a good idea to drive through a flooded area that you would not be able to comfortably walk through as the road under the water might have been washed away.
2. Just six inches of stagnant water is enough to reach the bottom of most cars, and it can cause the car to miss control without any tyre grip.
3. When you try to cross a flooded section of a road, make sure to drive through the middle where the water will be at its shallowest.
4. Never attempt to rush against an approaching vehicle as you will disturb the other driver and will not be able to judge the flood water as well.
5. As two feet of flowing water can easily sweep away most cars, don’t attempt to cross it as the car will lose grip and can be swept away easily.

Flooding at home is a nightmare for anyone, here is what you could do to stay protected apart from staying cover with a good insurance plan.

1. Follow the local building codes so that your home is built at the right height.
2. Usage of high-quality flood-resistant materials will avoid damages to flooring, walls, and ceilings.
3. Have electrical components like sockets and switches above the potential flood height.
4. Elevate utilities like washer, dryer, furnace, and water heater above the level of anticipated flooding.
5. Install a backflow valve in the sewer system.

Global weather change has drastically affected the climatic conditions and its impact on the Indian subcontinent. Flooding kills thousands of people and leave millions homeless every year.

Earlier this year Google India came up with flood information tool backed up by data provided by the Indian Central Water Commission (CWC). A part of Google Crisis Response Tools, this new tool can be accessed through Google Public Alerts for river water level data of more than 170 locations in the country. Again, such tools don’t prove its purpose unless it reaches the underprivileged and ignorant population who suffer the most. 

About 75% of annual rainfall in India comes down as monsoon showers in a few months. In spite of impressive economic growth ratio, India lags considerably behind in building resilience to such natural menace.

Now, what if you followed the precautionary efforts while building your home but, you anticipate flood anytime due to heavy downpour? Follow these steps to stay safe.

1. Move your valuables and furniture to the highest level possible and tie them up against pillars so that they remain safe and dry.
2. Transfer hazardous materials like pesticides, and cleaning supplies to a higher location to avoid poisoning.
3. Disconnect all electrical appliances immediately and never attempt to touch them if they are wet or while you are standing in water.
4. If your house has basements, seal all the vents to avoid seepage of flood water through them.
5. Look out for fire hazards like damaged gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, or submerged furnaces.

Besides these precautionary measures you must have the right combination of insurance plans so that you avoid last-minute surprises and don’t end up paying out-of-pocket for repairs. Consider opting for add-ons that are most useful for flooding especially if you live where monsoon disaster is a yearly episode.

Remembering Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

 As the calendar reads July 27, every Indian would recollect the loss of their dear Missile Man, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. It was on the same day, a year ago that the nation mourned the demise of People’s President who won home numerous laurels as a teacher, scientist, president, and a patriot. As the first bachelor and the first scientist to become the President of India, the youth icon showed immense love for children and had always inspired the youth of the nation.

Remembering the multi-faceted Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam

While every single episode of his life is an inspiration by itself, below are some of the interesting facts from the life of this secular leader:

1.       Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as the Scientist:

Dr. Kalam spearheaded the Pokhran nuclear tests and raised India to be on par with the countries that had nuclear capabilities. The nuclear bomb tests that were carried out at the Indian army's Pokhran Test Range is still considered a historical incident as the scientists deceived CIA spying by adjusting their working shifts. The expert crew was also made to dress in Indian military uniform as scientists in plain clothes in the army camp would draw attention and suspicion of the CIA.  Remembering this great day, the man behind this important mission had tweeted on May 11, 2015, "Today, I remember the hot day of 1998 at Pokhran: 53-degree celsius. When most of the world was sleeping; India's nuclear era emerged."

During his tenure at ISRO, he always made it a point to come forward and face the press during all the tests that turned out to be failures and accepted it as his fault. On the other hand, the great scientist was never seen boastful of huge success, rather maintained a low profile and always sent his fellow scientists to talk to the press about the success.

2.       Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as the President:      

During his tenure of Presidency, he received 21 mercy petitions of which he did not decide the fate of 20. The only petition he acted upon was the plea of infamous rapist Dhananjoy Chatterjee, who was later hanged as the plea was rejected.

Given the great scientist’s vast expertise in science and technology, the Switzerland government honored his visit to the country on 26th of May, 2005 as Science Day. He was also the first Indian head of state visiting Switzerland after 30 long years following the visit of former President V. V. Giri.

An active advocate of renewable energy, he desired to have Rashtrapati  Bhavan powered by solar energy:  Unfortunately, Dr. Kalam's term ended before the suggestion could be executed. Later, he was quoted saying: "I would have liked the Rashtrapati Bhavan to be the first home in India to be powered completely by solar energy.”

3.       Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s Social Contributions:

He founded an NGO trust named PURA (Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas) and donated all his life's salaries and savings to the trust.  The concept of the trust is discussed in his book ‘Target 3 Billion,' which he co-authored with Srijan Pal Singh.

Though he was a busy scientist who mentored many advanced technology solutions, he also engaged himself with minor projects like the low-cost coronary stent, now marketed as Kalam-Raju-Stent and the Kalam-Raju-Tablet, a low-cost rugged tool designed specifically for the use of rural healthcare. These small projects and Dr.Kalam’s contributions stay in the hearts of the deprived for bringing advanced healthcare within their reach.

4.       Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s Special Interests:

Dr. Kalam was keen to pursue a career with the Indian Air Force. Becoming a jet fighter pilot with was his dearest dream. He almost made it there by bagging the ninth position out of 25 candidates but was not enrolled as only eight slots were available at that time. But later, then seventy-four-year-old President of India flew in a Sukhoi-30 fighter plane,  thereby becoming the first President to fly a combat aircraft.

Dr. Kalam was known for being active in social media; he once had asked, "What should we do to free our planet from terrorism?" on Yahoo Answers, and received more than 30,000 answers. He had more than a million followers on Twitter but followed only 38 people and made it a point to give personalized reply to emails he received from his fans even during his busy schedule.

There is no doubt that Dr. Kalam is remembered by people from different walks of life in a variety of ways. It is important for all of us to remember that all that he did was to contribute towards a better India that is empowered. Therefore, the most befitting tribute to the visionary leader would be a promise to ourselves that we shall work towards bigger goals – the Nation.

Why Do I Need Insurance?

With everyone trying to live life at present to the fullest, not many see the need to think of tomorrow. Having a safety net is always helpful as life is unpredictable and full of risks. What have you got to help you soar back to normalcy if something went wrong? Here is when insurance comes to your rescue. We’ve even got reasons to say so!

As an individual, you might be facing challenges of daily life, and there are the bigger ones. Read further to find out what problems a correct insurance cover can solve:

1. I Want To Leave A Legacy Behind

A recent study revealed that 69% of retirees from around the world plan to leave an inheritance and about 86% of retirees in India are expected to future proof their families with some legacy. Creating an inheritance for your heirs is something that will speak of your love and responsibility even if you have no other assets to pass on. With suitable Term Plans and Annuity Plans from insurers like ICICI, Kotak, or SBI, you can create a solid financial security for your dependents against any monetary needs that may arise.

2. How To Manage Sudden Unaffordable Expenses?

Bills know nothing about your financial instability or a crisis that your family may be going through. Bills can keep accumulating and allow no breathing time but, there is a foolproof way out! All you need to do is to find yourself the correct Endowment Plan from various insurers like Kotak, Reliance and ICICI that create a cash value. With these policies, the insured gets to withdraw money on request for immediate expenses like unsettled medical bills, mortgage payments, business commitments and meeting college expenses for children etc. Another option is to go for a Health Plan from insurers like Religare, Star and Apollo.

 

3. I Need A Good Credit Score

A survey conducted across eight cities in India revealed that a whopping 92% of respondents were unaware of their credit scores. Knowing your credit score is as important as knowing your bank balance and explains the need to have a healthy credit rating.  What if you have a pathetic credit score?

There are ways to repair it, and the best way to build your credit rating is to have a Health Plan from insurers like Religare, Star and Apollo or Life Insurance from insurers like Kotak, Reliance and ICICI preferably through electronic clearance services mode which increases credibility.

4. The Show Must Go On – Even After I Am Gone

Insurance is a strong risk management strategy that offers stability and protection that you and your family will need during tough times. If a family loses a breadwinner with Guaranteed Return Plans from insurers like Reliance and Kotak, it can bring back the ray of hope at the time of loss. What’s more assuring than knowing your family is protected even while you are not around? Lead a stress-free life today by investing for a brighter future tomorrow.

 

5. Am I Ready For Unforeseen Financial Risks?

Who wants to see their loved ones suffer out of bad financial status? As life circumstances and financial commitments keep changing, shielding your family’s future against unforeseen financial risk is of top priority. What if you are looking out to start a business venture or incur surprise expenses?

A good endowment plan with benefits of liquidity is a strong option to which you can anchor on at times of crisis and boost your financial security.

While there are plenty of reasons to stay covered, an insurance expert could help you pick a plan that suits your needs best.
For the best plans, feel free to call us on the toll- free number 1800-1035-569 or drop an email to helpdesk@futurisk.in

Life might be an adventure, but it is still worth to have a backup. 

Stay Insured and Stay Assured!

 

Did You Know?

The Greeks and Romans came up with the idea of insurance by around 600 BC in the form of guilds called 'Benevolent Societies'. 

This was a plan that cared for the families of deceased members who insured themselves so that the family is paid for funeral expenses.