In the 37th meeting of Regional Board Meeting of Himachal Pradesh Employees State Insurance Corporation, Labour and Employment Minister Mukesh Agnihotri revealed that the State Government has decided to reduce the threshold limit from 20 employees to 10 employees for workers working in shops, commercial establishments and factories to ensure that maximum number of workers could draw benefits of different schemes of Employees State Insurance Corporation.
Agnihotri said that the State Government was committed towards the welfare of the working class and was providing best heath care facilities to the workers nearer to their work places. He said that Rs 800 crore ESIC Medical College and Hospital has been constructed at Ner Chowk Mandi to provide specialized health care facilities to the workers. He said that classes in this Medical College and Hospital would be started from this academic session and 100 MBBS students would be admitted in the College.
Labour and Employment Minister said that in order to ensure registration of maximum number of workers online capturing of Bio-metric data of the IPs was being done at ESI Dispensary Shimla. He said that now from May this year 5 kits have been allocated to Himachal Pradesh Regional Office for off-line camps and one kit has been earmarked for Shimla to capture the Bio-metric data of IPs.
Agnihotri said that in order to facilitate the workers, the limit of payment of Medical Reimbursement Claims has been enhanced from Rs 1000 to Rs 4000. He said that adequate medicines would be made available in all the ESI dispensaries so that the workers do not suffer for the want of medicines. He said that payment of Medical Reimbursement Claims of Multi Specialty would be deposited in the office of State Medical Commissioner so as to ensure their timely clearance.
Labour and Employment Minister said that the ESI Dispensary at industrial area Tahliwal would be upgraded to Model Dispensary cum Diagnostic Centre keeping in view number of workers in this industrial area. He said that a monthly speedy grievance redressal programme was being held on 10th of every month at Regional Office and Branch Offices of Himachal Pradesh Employees State Insurance Corporation for awareness of ESI Schemes for the benefit of the workers.
Labour and Employment Minister said that doctors and para-medical staff posted in ESIC dispensaries and ESIC Hospital would not be shifted to the dispensaries and hospitals of the State Government.
Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Vineet Chawdhry said that the State Government would ensure that the workers were provided best health care facilities at their work places.
General Secretary INTUC B.S. Chauhan, President CITU Jagat Ram, President AITUC Jagdish Chand, President BMS Surinder Thakur and representatives of various trade unions and workers union representatives attended the meeting and gave their valuable suggestions.
Regional Director and Member Secretary of Regional Board of Himachal Pradesh Employees State Insurance Corporation Rattan Kumar presented vote of thanks.
Principal Secretary Labour and Employment R.D Dhiman, Labour Commissioner Nandita Gupta, Director Health Safety and Regulatory Board Hans Raj Sharma and Dy. Director ESIC Himachal Sunil Kumar Negi were also present at the meeting.
