ESIC to introduce schemes in three north-eastern states: Minister

The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) would introduce health service schemes for workers in three north-eastern states, union Minister of state for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya said on Thursday.

The ESIC is a statutory body under the Labour and Employment Ministry to provide medical services to workers in the organised sector.

"The ESIC schemes, including medical services, would be introduced for workers in Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Andaman and Nicobar Islands soon, thereby covering the entire country," Dattatreya said in a meeting here.

He said that a 10-bed dispensary and 30-bed hospital would be set up in Mizoram by the ESIC.

"The union government is keen to resolve the problems of the north-eastern states through visits by central ministers to the region and by not sitting in national capital Delhi," the minister added.

The ESIC operates its schemes in association with the respective governments of other north-eastern states.

The ESIC is an apex corporate body operating integrated social security schemes to provide protection to workers and their dependents in case of sickness, maternity and death or disablement due to occupational diseases.

Currently, about 186 lakh workers, or 67 percent of the country's organised sector workforce, are covered by ESIC schemes.

During his two-day stay in Aizawl, the union minister held a series of meetings with Mizoram Governor Lt. General Nirbhay Sharma (retd), Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and the state's labour minister Lalrinmawia Ralte and senior officials.