The 193^rd Meeting of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation was held today in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Chairman, ESIC. Shri Rameswar Teli, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Petroleum and Natural Gas also attended the meeting as Vice-Chairman.

During the meeting, the following important decisions directed towards availability of medical care and cash benefits to Insured Workers and their family members were taken:

Medical Benefits to be extended to superannuated Insured Persons with relaxed norms

During the 193rd meeting of the ESI Corporation,  the proposal to provide Medical Benefit to the Insured superannuating workers who went out of the ESI Scheme coverage due to exceeding the wage ceiling, if the worker was under insurable employment for at least 5 years before superannuation/voluntary retirement, has been approved. The persons who were in the insurable employment for at least 5 years after 01.04.2012 and superannuated/voluntarily retired on or after 01.04.2017 with wages up to Rs. 30,000 per month will be benefitted under the new benefit scheme.

ESIC to augment medical services and infrastructure in North-East Region and Sikkim

To augment the service delivery mechanism in North-Eastern states to fulfil the vision of Act East Policy of the Government, the ESI Corporation relaxed the existing norms for establishment of dispensaries, medical infrastructure/Regional/Sub Regional Offices in NE states including Sikkim.

ESIC adopts new Policy on AYUSH 2023 for holistic wellbeing of IPs and Beneficiaries

To promote holistic wellbeing of the ESI beneficiaries, a new Policy on AYUSH 2023 in ESIC institutions was adopted during the meeting. The policy details the establishing of Panchkarma, Kshara Sutra and AYUSH Units in ESIC Hospitals.

ESIC to acquire more lands for infrastructure development

During the meeting, to strengthen the infrastructure of medical care, approval for acquisition of lands for construction of 100 bedded hospitals each at Udupi, Karnataka; Idukki, Kerala and 150 bedded hospital at Malerkotla, Punjab was also accorded.

ESIC to continue concessions/facilities for non-IPs at nil user charges at ESIC Medical Colleges and Hospitals at Alwar & Bihta

Concessions/facilities for non-IPs to avail ESI healthcare services at “Nil” user charges at ESIC Medical Colleges and Hospitals at Alwar, Rajasthan and Bihta, Bihar has been extended till 31.03.2025.

Revised Estimates 2023-24, Budget Estimates 2024-25 and Performance Budget 2024-25 adopted by ESI Corporation 

The Revised Estimates 2023-24, Budget Estimates 2024-25 and Performance Budget 2024-25 of the ESIC was adopted by the ESI Corporation during the meeting.

During the meeting, the Union Minister said that overall improvements have been made in the service delivery mechanism of ESIC by building and increasing capacity, renovation & construction of medical infrastructure throughout the country and adopting robust policies. He further added that the quantum and magnitude of efforts made to extend the social security benefits to the vulnerable workforce of our country should always be strengthened.

The Secretary, Labour & Employment said that the work of infrastructure development in ESIC has been done swiftly in the past few years. She also desired to formulate a standardised plan for disbursement of cash benefits, medical benefits, and construction management for enhanced service delivery.

A book on HR Norms of the ESI Corporation was also released during the 193^rd meeting of the ESI Corporation by the Hon’ble Union Minister.

Ms. Arti Ahuja, Secretary (L&E), Ms. Dola Sen, MP, Shri Ram Kirpal Yadav, MP, Shri Khagen Murmu, MP, Dr. Rajendra Kumar, Director General, ESIC attended the meeting alongwith Principal Secretaries/Secretaries of the State Governments, representatives of Employers, Employees, experts in the medical field and  other members of ESI Corporation.

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MJPS