Chief Secretary strict on the slow process of giving ESI coverage to contract and other workers in the state
After strict instructions of Chief Secretary Smt Radha Raturi, intensive drive was conducted and notices were issued to more than 15000 units in relation to ESI
Chief Secretary Smt Radha Raturi summoned the report of the action taken so far from Secretary Urban Development in relation to giving ESI coverage to daily/contract employees in Municipal Corporations and Municipal Bodies
Instructions for immediate action regarding ESI coverage to daily/contract employees, workers working in Municipal Corporations
Chief Secretary gave instructions to take immediate action on giving ESI coverage to contract and workers working in all other departments of the State Government
Taking a tough stand on the slow process of providing ESI coverage to contractual and other workers in the state, Chief Secretary Smt Radha Raturi today summoned a report from the Secretary Urban Development in the Secretariat on the action taken so far in relation to providing ESI coverage to daily/contractual workers in Municipal Corporations and Municipal Bodies. She has given strict instructions to the concerned Secretary that all the Municipalities and Bodies should be reviewed immediately and immediate action should be taken to compulsorily cover the daily/contractual workers and labourers working in them under the Employees State Insurance Scheme.
After the strict instructions of Chief Secretary Smt. Radha Raturi, till now the Labour Department has conducted an intensive drive and conducted surprise inspection in relation to ESI and notices have been issued to more than 15000 units, out of which 10000 units have completed the process of ESI coverage. Chief Secretary Smt Radha Raturi has once again given instructions in today’s meeting to conduct an intensive drive in relation to the check of ESI coverage.
To provide health and social security medical aid, accident cover and other health benefits to the contract and labourers in the state and to protect the workers from risks arising at the workplace as well as to make the workers aware about the benefits of the insurance scheme and their rights, Chief Secretary Smt. Radha Raturi has directed the concerned officers to work on this with top priority and seriousness.
Chief Secretary Smt Radha Raturi has directed the Rural Development, Youth Welfare, Disaster Management, Finance, Women Empowerment and Child Development Department as well as various NGOs to prepare an action plan as soon as possible to cover the contract and other workers under the Employees State Insurance Scheme.
The Employees State Insurance Scheme is funded by the employer and employee contributions. The employer’s contribution is 3.25 percent and the employees’ contribution is 0.75 percent. Thus, the total payable wage is 4%. The corporation reimburses 87.5% of the actual expenditure out of 100% of the scheme operation to the state government.
The number of insurance holders in the state is 7,34,343 and the number of their dependents is about thirty lakh. The scheme is operated in 13 districts, 45 dispensaries and 65 contracted medical institutions in the state. The Employees State Insurance Scheme under the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 is a unique social insurance scheme that provides protection to workers covered under the organised sector and their dependents against illness, maternity, death and disability due to employment injury and occupational diseases.
Under the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948, workers employed in industrial establishments, commercial establishments etc. in the organised sector in the state and receiving a salary up to the limit of ₹21,000 and ₹25,000 for disabled persons are insured by the Employees State Insurance Corporation, Government of India.
Secretary Shri Pankaj Kumar Pandey along with various officers of Finance, Labour, ESI, Upanal, Medical Services Department were present in the review meeting held in connection with the Employees State Insurance Scheme and Labour Medical Services held in the Secretariat.
