Mangalore: Union labour minister inaugurates ESIC office in city
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Oct 24: "Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme is a multi-dimensional social security programme aimed at providing socio-economic protection to workers. ESIC emphasizes on boosting will power and protect human dignity. The ESI scheme was implemented in Karnataka on July 27, 1958 covering about 48,000 workers. ESIC has set up 6 sub-regional offices in Karnataka - in Hubli, Bangalore South, Bangalore North, Mysore, Gulbarga and now in Mangalore," said union minister for labour and Employment Kodikunnil Suresh.
He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating ESIC sub-regional office by symbolically unveiling a large plaque at Sanghaniketan hall here on Thursday October 24. The office is located at City Point near Navabharat circle, Kodialbail.
“Under this scheme, earlier the benefits were restricted to workers with wages not more than Rs 15,000, but now the slab has been increased to Rs 25,000. Cash benefits are disbursed throughout the 40 branches in state. Fifty thousand payments involving an amount of around Rs 10 crore have been disbursed to the beneficiaries during 2013. Medical care is provided in 105 dispensaries and 9 ESI hospitals. Two medical colleges have been already set up in Rajajinagar (Bangalore) and Gulbarga with the idea of providing proper health infrastructure. In Karnataka ESIC projects have been implemented in 27 districts, and surveys by the corporations are in progress to establish ESICs in districts like Bidar, Chikmagalur and Kodagu," he informed.
He further said that the union government is ready to provide any facility concerning health infrastructure, including funds for renovation of buildings and to purchase equipment, but the state government needs to send proposals to the government. "The government is also emphasizing medical education wherein doctors and paramedical staff are trained and later absorbed into the ESIC. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) is a programme that has been successful in Kerala; even Karnataka should think about implementing it," he added.
P T Parameshwara Naik, state minister for labour said, “Government has a plan to establish 100 ITI colleges in the state especially in rural areas to tackle unemployment. A Germany-Karnataka multi-skill development project worth Rs 42 crore has been planned and it will be soon implemented,” he said.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel delivered the keynote address and demanded establishment of two ITI colleges in rural areas of Beltangady and Sullia. Government should also give the importance to colleges in rural areas, he said.
Corporator Rajendra Kumar, Dr Kadothiya, J Varghese and others were present.
R S Rao, regional director of ESIC welcomed. Varghese thanked.
Central labour minister Kodikunnil Suresh visits congress office
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (VM)
Mangalore, Oct 24: "Since my early days as a youth Congress leader, I have been closely associated with district Congress leaders and it has been a good experience. The ESI corporation has sanctioned a sub-regional office here, considering the large number of workers here, said union labour minister Kodikunnil Suresh.
He was speaking to media persons at district Congress office here on Thursday October 24, prior to the inauguration of ESI sub-regional office.
Stating that the ESI corporation has sub-regional offices in places like Mysore, Hubli, Bangalore South, Bangalore North and Gulbarga, the minister said the ESI sub-regional office has been opened in this district as the government wants to give maximum health facilities to the large number of workers coming under ESI scheme here.
"In Karnataka, we have already built ESI medical colleges in Rajajinagar and Gulbarga, and if the state government needs any assistance, we will support them in all matters," he added.
P T Parameshwara Naik, minister of state for labour said the state government with the support of central government has brought into force various schemes for laboures, and is planning some more. The ESI sub-regional office has been built here so that the neighbouring 4 to 5 districts are also benefitted from it, he added.
Inauguration in RSS hall
When a reporter asked why the ESI sub-regional office inaugural programme was organized at Sanghaniketan hall belonging to RSS, the minister replied that he was unaware of the place.
"I did not know about the place as the venue was decided by the local officials. I will definitely question them in this regard," he said.