ESIC hikes wage limit to bring more workers under net

In a bid to bring more workers from unorganised sector under the health insurance scheme, the Employees State Insurance Corporation has increased the monthly wage limit to Rs 21,000, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said here on Sunday.

“Earlier coverage under ESIC scheme was enhanced to Rs 15,000 in 2010. Now, government has taken a decision to hike the coverage from Rs 15,000 to Rs 21,000,” he said.

He said that the government is also strengthening the health infrastructure for the benefit of workers.

The upward increase in revision would add about 35 lakh new members to the ESIC pool, Dattatreya said.

At present, 2.14 crore persons are enrolled under this scheme. A notification in this regard has been issued on October 6, 2016 and invites suggestions and objections from all stakeholders.

The government is also strengthening the health infrastructure by upgrading dispensaries into six-bedded hospitals, the minister said.

10-bedded hospitals would also be upgraded into 30-bedded depending on the strength of the insured persons, Dattatreya said, adding, now ESIC and ESI both have 1,450 dispensaries.

The Union minister said he has written to all Chief Ministers to provide land for construction of six-bedded hospitals.