Special awareness programme on ESI scheme held in Kohima

DIMAPUR — The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) under Ministry of Labour and Employment, in collaboration with State Labour department, organised a special awareness programme on Employees State Insurance (ESI) Scheme for the employers and workers in the organised sector at the conference hall of the Directorate of Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in Kohima on August 29.

L Tsanglao, deputy director of Employees State Insurance Corporation and coordination officer for the State of Nagaland, who was also the resource person of the awareness programme, highlighted the ESI scheme through a power point presentation, a DIPR report stated.

He informed that ESI Act, 1948 was the first major legislation on social security for the workers in India and is being implemented by the ESIC, a statutory body under Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, in collaboration with state governments.

Tsanglao said the ESI scheme is a comprehensive social security scheme for the workers in the organised sector and their dependant families. The scheme provides both cash and medical care to the beneficiaries or insured person.

He also informed that the scheme provides medical care to the insured person and their dependant family members from date of joining insurable employment, which include primary, secondary and super specialty treatment through own healthcare facilities or tie-up hospitals.

Cash benefits are provided in the form of wage compensation during the time of sickness, injury, disablement, maternity and death in the course of employment. Also cash benefits cover funeral expenses, confinement expenses, medical care to retired insured person and host of other benefits, he stated.

Additionally, the wards of insured person are eligible for ESIC quota for undergoing medical courses in ESIC-run medical colleges.

He said that the ESI Act applies to factories and other establishment such as hotels, restaurants, cinemas, newspapers, shops and private educational and medical institutions, employing 10 or more workers with wage limit of INR 21000 (upto INR 25000 for person with disabilities).

The scheme is financed by contribution from employers and employees @ 3.25% and 0.75% of the total wages.

Tsanglao further informed that by registration under the scheme, the employers derive benefits by way of being absolved of all liabilities of providing medical facilities to the employees and their dependents.

He stated that the employers are also exempted from the applicability of the Maternity Benefit Act, Employees Compensation Act and also the contribution under ESI Act is exempted from the Income Tax Act.

Employers having 10 or more employees are to mandatorily register under the scheme through Shram-Suvidha portal and obtain employer’s code and there after the employer shall register all employees under him or her with wage ceiling limit of INR 21000 and generate employee insurance number, which is valid for lifetime of an employee.

The discussion hour was led by L Tsanglao and K Guite, branch manager, ESIC, Branch Office, Dimapur.

Earlier in his address, the ADC of Kohima, Rhosietho Nguori, emphasised on the importance and nobility of the scheme and said that though the scheme was implemented in the year 2019 in Kohima, there is still lack of awareness among the local populace.

In her concluding remarks, Avile Vitso, joint labour commissioner and CEO of ESI Scheme, Nagaland, thanked all the participants and urged them to register under the scheme. She also provided the contact details of officials to be approached for assistance and redressal of grievances.

The special awareness programme concluded with free health checkup camp led by Dr. Kenei, insurance medical officer at ESI Scheme dispensary, Kohima.

The programme was chaired by Neimenuo, assistant labour commissioner, Kohima.