Employees’ State Insurance Corporation under Ministry of Labour and Employment Government of India in collaboration with State Labour Department had organized a special awareness programme on Employees State Insurance Scheme for the employers and workers in the organized sector in the Conference Hall of the Directorate of Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Kohima on 29th August 2024 which was chaired by Neimenuo, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Kohima.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, Rhosietho Nguori NCS, delivered a short speech on the importance and nobility of the scheme. In his speech he informed that though the scheme was implemented in the year 2019 in Kohima there is no awareness among the local populace and requested for more such awareness programme for registration under the scheme.
L. Tsanglao, Deputy Director, Employees State Insurance Corporation and Co-Ordination Officer for the State of Nagaland as the resource person highlighted the ESI Scheme through a power point presentation. He informed that ESI Act. 1948 was the first major legislation on social security for the workers in India and is being implemented by Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, a statutory body under Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India in collaboration with State Governments. Briefing the gathering he informed that ESI Scheme is a comprehensive social security scheme for the workers in the organized sector and their dependent families. The Scheme provides both Cash and Medical care to the beneficiaries/Insured person.
He informed that the scheme provides medical care to the insured person and their dependent family members from date of joining insurable employment which include primary, secondary & super specialty treatment through own health care facilities and through tie-up hospitals. He informed that cash benefits are provided in the form of wage compensation during the time of Sickness, Employment injury, Disablement, Maternity and Death in the course of employment, Funeral expenses, Confinement expenses, Medical care to retired insured person and host of other benefits. He further inform that the ward 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 Rs. 21000/- (upto 25000 for person with disabilities). He informed that the scheme is financed by contribution from Employers and Employees @ 3.25% and 0.75% of the total wages.
L. Tsanglao also informed that by registration under the scheme the Employers derived benefits by way of being absolved of all their liabilities of providing medical facilities to the employees and their dependents. 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. The Employers are also exempted from payment of Employer share upto 3 years for providing employment to person with disabilities. He informed that the Employers have at their disposal a productive, well secured healthy workforce for better productivity.
He informed that the Employers having 10 or more employees were to mandatorily register under the scheme through SHRAM-SUVIDHA PORTAL and obtained Employers code and there after the Employer shall had registered all employees under him/her upto wages ceiling limit of Rs. 21000/- and generate Employee insurance number which is valid for lifetime of an employee.
The discussion hour was led by L. Tsanglao Deputy Director, ESIC, & K. Guite, Branch Manager, ESIC, Branch Office, Dimapur.
In her concluding remarks Avile Vitso, Joint Labour Commissioner, Nagaland, & CEO ESI Scheme Nagaland, thanked all the participants and urged them to register under the scheme and at the same time made a request to spread the message further. She informed and also provided the contact details of Officials to be approached for assistance & for redressal of grievances.
The Special Awareness programme concluded with free health checkup camp led by Dr. Kenei, Insurance Medical Officer, ESI Scheme Dispensary Kohima.
(DIPR)
