Pokhara, June 23 The Western Regional Sports Development Committee has started health and accident insurance of the players of the region. Western Regional SDC President Khagaraj Poudel kick started the programme by handing over the policies to volleyball player Manju Gurung and cricketer Karan KC today. As per the programme, Western Regional SDC would bear the premium of all the athletes for the health insurance worth Rs 25,000 and accident insurance worth Rs 200,000. The Western Regional SDC has decided to provide the facilities to 42 national and international level athletes in the first phase. Prudential Insurance Company is the partner of the programme. “We have started programme for the first time in the country,” said Poudel. “We have started it a small scale but we will cover all the players of the region.  We hope this will solve the problems of medal winning players who get injured while playing for the country but were deprived of treatment.” Joint Secretary at Youth and Sports Ministry Janardan Rijal said he would take the initiation to provide the players with insurance from next fiscal year.