Foundation Stone of 100 Bedded ESI Hospital laid at Kakinada, AP

Kakinada:  Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour & Employment, Govt. of India recently  laid the foundation stone of 100 bedded ESI Hospital, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.

Shri Gummanur Jayaram, Minister for Labour & Employment, Training & Factories, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh was the Chief Guest of this function. Smt. Vanga Geetha Viswandh, MP, Kakinada presided the function.

The other dignitaries to grace the occasion were Shri Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, Dy. CM and Minister for Revenue, Stamps & Registration, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Pinipe Viswarup, Minister for Social Welfare, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Kurasala Kannababu, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperation Marketing Food Processing, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, Smt. Sunkara Pavani, Mayor, Kakinada Municipal Corporation, Shri Chikkala Ramachandra Rao, MLC, Shri Dwarampudi Chandra Sekar Reddy, MLA, Kakinada City and Dr. R. K. Kataria, Medical Commissioner, ESIC.

During the event, Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour & Employment, Govt. of India informed about the various initiatives taken by the government to provide better care and services to the workers of India. He further informed about reduction in contribution rates under ESI Scheme, implementation of Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana etc.

Shri Gummanur Jayaram, Minister for Labour & Employment, Training & Factories, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh thanked the Central Govt. and assured full cooperation of State Govt. in running the upcoming hospital. The other dignitaries present during the event acknowledged the efforts of central govt. and assured the state government cooperation. The project is expected to be completed in two years. After construction of this hospital of ESIC, the same will be handed over to State Govt. for running it.

The 100 bedded ESI Hospital in Kakinada will be built over 7 acres area, surrounded by lush greenery, with an estimated cost of Rs. 101.54 Crores. The hospital will consist of G+2 levels, including residential campus and will be equipped with all modern medical facilities like OPD, Wards, Labs . This hospital will help in catering the needs Kakinada and Yanam, that currently has over 65000 IPs and over 2 lakh beneficiaries.

In Andhra Pradesh, initially, the ESI Scheme was implemented centre wise with just 4 centres viz. Vijayawada, Guntur, Eluru and Vishakhapatnam w.e.f. 09.10.1955. The scheme was gradually extended to 136 centres. Presently, the scheme is in force in 663 mandals of Andhra Pradesh with over 42,880 Employers, 12,90,051 IPs and 43,39,208 Beneficiaries. The ESI Scheme is administered in Andhra Pradesh through 1 Regional Office, 2 Sub-Regional Offices and 22 Branch Offices. Medical services to the beneficiaries are being provided through 4 ESIS Hospitals, 3 Diagnostic Centres, 78 ESIS Dispensaries, 79 Panel Clinics and mobile dispensaries in 34 centres.

For providing secondary care and super speciality treatment, tie-up arrangements have been made with 38 private hospitals in all districts and at important centres.

The Employees' State Insurance Corporation is a pioneer Social Security organization providing comprehensive social security benefits like reasonable Medical Care and a range of Cash Benefits in times of need such as employment injury, sickness, death etc. The ESI Act applies to premises/precincts where 10 or more persons are employed. The employees drawing wages up to Rs.21,000/- a month are entitled to health insurance cover and other benefits, under the ESI Act. The Act now applies to over 10.33 lakh factories and establishments across the country, benefiting about 3.43 crores family units of workers. As of now, the total beneficiary population of ESI Scheme stands over 13.32 crores. Ever since its inception in 1952, the ESI Corporation has, so far, set up 154 Hospitals, 1500/148 Dispensaries / ISM Units, 815 Branch/Pay Offices and 63 Regional & Sub-Regional Offices.