Govt proposes to spend Rs 8,800 cr on ESI beneficiaries

Central government has proposed spendings worth over Rs 8,800 crore on medical and cash benefits for workers and family members covered under the ESI scheme during 2016-2017 fiscal year, Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said here on Friday.

Speaking after the 168th meeting of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) held here, he said the budget estimates of ESIC for FY 2016-17 are Rs 16,781 crore, up from the revised estimates of Rs 14,620 crore for current FY 2015-16. “As per the budget estimates, we are going to spend Rs 7,618 crore in the next year on medical benefit and Rs 1,184 crore on cash benefit for the workers and the family members covered under the ESI scheme,” Dattatreya, the Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said. He said it was estimated that the contribution income will reach to about Rs 11,800 crore in the current financial year. “Figures indicate our corporation is growing and is dedicated to work towards the social security and welfare of the working class in the lower wage bracket,” Dattatreya said.