By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 25 Nov: Taking a tough stand on the slow process of providing ESI coverage to contractual and other workers in the state, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi today summoned a report from the Secretary, Urban Development, in the Secretariat on the action taken so far. She has given strict instructions to the Secretary that all the Municipalities and Bodies should be reviewed immediately and immediate action taken to compulsorily cover the daily/contractual workers and labourers working in them under the Employees State Insurance Scheme.
The Labour Department has conducted an intensive drive and conducted surprise inspection in relation to ESI and notices have been issued to more than 15,000 units, out of which 10,000 units have completed the process of ESI coverage. Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has once again given instructions at 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 other 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 Raturi has directed the officers concerned to work on this with top priority and seriousness.
She has directed the Rural Development, Youth Welfare, Disaster Management, Finance, Women Empowerment and Child Development Departments 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 dependants 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 dependants 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 Rs 21,000 and Rs 25,000 for disabled persons are insured by the Employees State Insurance Corporation, Government of India.
Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey along with various officers of Finance, Labour, ESI, UPNL, Medical Services Department were present at the review meeting.
