Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) 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 (ESI 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.
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.
Resource Person, L. Tsanglao, Deputy Director, Employees State Insurance Corporation and Co-Ordination Officer for the State of Nagaland, informed that ESI Act. 1948 was the first major legislation on social security for the workers in India and is being implemented by ESIC, a statutory body under MoL&E, Government of India in collaboration with State Governments. Briefing the gathering he informed that Employees State Insurance 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.
Tsanglao 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 and 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 informed that the ward of insured person are eligible for ESIC Quota for undergoing Medical courses in ESIC run Medical colleges.
The Deputy Director 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 derive 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 exempted from payment of employer share for 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 obtain the employers code and thereafter the employer can register 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 on Employees State Insurance Scheme was chaired by Neimenuo, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Kohima and concluded with free health checkup camp led by Dr. Kenei, Insurance Medical Officer, ESI Scheme Dispensary Kohima.
