Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoL&E), chaired the 194th meeting of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) at its headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi.
- The meeting focused on improving medical care services, administration, financial matters, and reviewing ongoing construction projects.
- Union Minister announced several key decisions of ESIC to strengthen the infrastructure and medical facilities of ESIC.
Key People:
Union Minister of State (MoS) Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, MoL&E; Sumita Dawra, Secretary, MoL&E. Ashok Kumar Singh, Director General (DG), ESIC, among others.
Details of the Announcements:
Establishment of 10 New ESIC Medical Colleges:
To enhance medical education, the ESIC approved the establishment of 10 new medical colleges across various states viz. Andheri (Maharashtra), Basaidarapur (Delhi), Guwahati-Beltola (Assam), Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Jaipur (Rajasthan), Ludhiana (Punjab), Naroda-Bapunagar (Gujarat), Noida & Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), and Ranchi (Jharkhand).
- It supports the Prime Minister’s (PM) Narendra Modi announcement of creating 75,000 new medical seats in 5 years.
Extension of Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna:
The unemployment allowance scheme for insured persons has been extended from 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2026 to provide continued support during job searches.
- This initiative is a support measure for employees protected under Section 2(9) of the ESI Act, 1948, providing a relief payment for up to 90 days, available once in a lifetime.
Provision of Medical Care under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY:
The Minister announced provision of Medical Care to ESIC Beneficiaries under convergence program of ESIC with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) on pan India basis.
- This will help the ESIC beneficiaries to get treatment at empanelled hospitals of AB-PMJAY in unserviced/deficient areas of India.
Introduction of Para-medical & B.Sc Nursing Courses:
New para-medical and nursing courses are approved to be offered in several ESIC Medical Colleges to address the need for trained healthcare professionals.
- These will be located in Alwar (Rajasthan), Bihta (Bihar), Faridabad (Haryana), Joka (Kolkata, West Bengal/WB), K.K. Nagar (Chennai, Tamil Nadu), Sanathnagar (Hyderabad, Telangana), and Rajajinagar (Bengaluru, Karnataka).
Nursing Officer Recruitment through NORCET:
i.ESI Corporation has approved for the adoption of recruitment for the post of Nursing Officer, in line with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) recruitment policy, for conducting the recruitment of Nursing Officers through National Online Registration for Nursing Entrance Test (NORCET) organized by AIIMS.
ii.This will ensure that there is no shortage and vacancy of nurses in ESIC Hospitals/Colleges and Dispensaries.
Acquisition of Land for New Hospitals and Dispensaries:
The ESIC approved land acquisition for constructing new hospitals and dispensaries to strengthen healthcare infrastructure. These include:
- 100-bedded ESI Hospital in Guntur (Andhra Pradesh/AP).
- Doctor Dispensary in Fatehpur (Uttar Pradesh/UP).
- Dispensary cum Branch Office (DCBO) in Pratapgarh, and Auraiya (UP).
- 350-bedded ESI Hospital in Pune (Maharashtra).
- ESI Dispensary and Branch Office in Dhubri (Assam).
- 100-bedded ESI Hospital in Muzaffarpur (Bihar).
Additional info:
i.Construction of 717 new staff quarters at ESIC residential colony, Sector-56, Noida, Uttar Pradesh(UP) has also been approved.
ii.Various agenda items pertaining to improvement in Medical Care Services, Administration, Financial Matters were deliberated upon and decided during the meeting along with the review of ongoing construction projects.
Recent Related News:
i.The 46th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee (WHC), hosted by India for the first time, was held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi (India) from 21st to 31st July 2024.
ii.The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has constituted 5-member committee headed by Ravi Gandhi, Additional Director General (ADG), Border Security Force (BSF) and Eastern Command of the Indian Army(IA) to monitor the current situation on Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB).
About Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC):
Director General (DG)– Ashok Kumar Singh
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoL&E)
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Establishment– 1952
