NEW DELHI, NOV 25: Happy with the response to this year's advertising campaign, the Tariff Advisory Committee (TAC) is going to make it an annual feature. In an unusual step, TAC unleashed a Rs one crore advertising campaign in leading national magazines last month. The budget will be spent in a campaign which will last for a year. TAC was prompted to take this step after the criticism it received in the wake of the motor premium controversy.

TAC's decision to raise the premia for third party motor insurance was strongly opposed by truckers' associations. The truckers called the rise anti-industry. In a bid to improve its image and to appear industry-friendly, TAC decided to launch the campaign. Several companies have written to TAC asking about its services following the advertising campaign.

Says a member of the TAC, ``It became necessary for us to improve our image. We have to deal with the customers directly so it is important that we are seen as a helpful organisation.'' TAC is a statutory body set up under the Insurance Act of 1938. It formulates and administers tariffs for important sections of general insurance like marine, fire engineering, motor and petrochemicals. Apart from fixing tariffs, TAC also acts as a consultant and a certifying agency.

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