# India

The LaLiT becomes first hotel chain to extend healthcare benefits to LGBTQ employees

The LaLiT, which has 12 hotels in India and one in London, United Kingdom, and employs over 3,000 professionals, announced the Group Mediclaim Policy during the Global Pride Month.

SNS | New Delhi | June 5, 2018 7:57 pm

The LaLiT becomes first hotel chain to extend healthcare benefits to LGBTQ employees

In what can be considered as a fillip to the LGBTQ movement in India, The LaLiT Suri Hospitality group has become India’s first hotel chain to provide healthcare benefits (Mediclaim) to same sex couples, children born through surrogacy and single parents among its employees.

The LaLiT, which has 12 hotels in India and one in London, United Kingdom, and employs over 3,000 professionals, announced the Group Mediclaim Policy during the Global Pride Month.

Talking about the initiative, Executive Director of the Group Keshav Suri, who has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights, said, “Every human being deserves to be treated equally, irrespective of their sexual orientation, caste or colour.”

Suri added, “Health is the most basic necessity for all humans, and as a leader I felt it was necessary to insure a healthy future for all our employees”.

While health policies usually cover employees, their spouses and dependent parents, the existing laws of the country outcast the LGBTQ community from this employment benefit. However, The LaLiT Group has, however, included them in its Mediclaim Policy after managing to bring ICICI Lombard on board.

Accordingly, the general insurance company made appropriate additions to the health insurance cover for the group.

Their programme covers LGBTQ people, their families, adopted children or those born through surrogacy to heterosexuals, same sex couples, and single parents.