There will be an ESI hospital in all districts: Labour Minister

New Delhi, Aug 21: Union Labour and Employment Minister Santhosh Kumar Gangwar on Wednesday said that the government was planning to set up ESI hospitals in all the districts in the country.

"There are over 450 ESI hospitals across the country and plans are afoot to set up hospitals in other districts too", the Minister said after laying the foundation stone for a new OPD building and dedicating the ESI Medical College and Hospital, in Hyderabad.

Mr Gangwar assured all kinds of support for strengthening the ESI Hospital network in Telangana and sought cooperation from the State Government to speed up the processes required, an official statement said.

He further said the government has initiated several measures to provide a monthly pension to the workers in unorganized sector.

"The Centre is committed to the welfare of the labor force in the country and has introduced two bills in the Lok Sabha, related to wage and occupational safety of workers", the Minister said.

He assured that steps would be taken to ensure that there is no dearth of doctors or paramedical staff at ESI hospitals.

The government has reduced the contribution under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act to 4 per cent from 6.5 per cent, this move, Mr Gangwar said, is expected to increase the take home salary of workers as well as reduce the financial burden of employers.

This includes a reduction of 1.5 per cent in employers’ contribution to 3.25 per cent from 4.75 per cent and 1 per cent reduction in employees’ contribution to 0.75 per cent from 1.75 per cent, the Labour minister said.

"The Government is committed to ensuring wage, jobs and social security for all workers including those in the unorganized sector.

Around 40 crore workers from the unorganized sectors will be covered under ESIC and EPFO, including building construction workers, beedi workers, auto drivers/rickshaw workers, and provided health services under social security scheme" he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Home, G Kishan Reddy stressed the need for announcing the ESI Medical College and Hospital in Hyderabad a model Hospital. Stating that the Centre released Rs 1,200 crore for setting up of an AIIMS hospital in Telangana, he asked the state Government to implement Ayushman Bharat programme also so that number of people would get health benefits in the state.

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