Joint labour commissioner, Kohima, Er. Yanger Aier said Nagaland Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) came into existence in 2008 but so far the scheme has not been properly implemented and that people are still not conscious about it.
He said this while addressing as chief guest at a seminar-cum-awareness workshop on the functions of ESIC and different benefits provided under ESI Act, rules and regulations framed under it by ESIC Dimapur branch at Circuit House, Walford, Dimapur.
Yanger while suggesting the ESIC officials to identify the reasons for poor functioning of scheme asked them to create more awareness and also asked officials to identify establishments and approach trade unions that have more manpower and explain about the benefits covered by the scheme.
He also urged the employers to come forward and join the scheme so that it can be a success in Nagaland.
Through a power point presentation, P. Baruah regional director ESIC Guwahati highlighted about the ESIC scheme in northeast region, benefits under ESI Act and commitments made to stakeholders.
He said ESI Act applies to any premises/precincts where 10 or more persons are employed.
A factory or an establishment located in a geographical area notified for implementation of the scheme and the employees drawing wages up to `15000 per month are entitled to social security cover under the ESI Act.
He also highlighted that ESI scheme was a self financing health insurance scheme and the contributions are raised from covered employees and their employers as a fixed percentage of wages.
Highlighting the benefits under the ACT, Baruah said ESI scheme provides full medical care to an insured person and his/her family members from the date of insured person’s entry into insurable employment, also provides sickness benefit paid in cash for abstention from work without wages on medical grounds as provided under the Act.
Extended sickness benefit paid in case of long term diseases and presently this benefit is paid in respect of 34 diseases which takes time to cure, he said.
Further he said that the scheme provides temporary disablement arising out of employment injury and occupational diseases as defined in the Act and permanent disablement benefit where after cessation of temporary disablement the insured person can apply for medical board to assess permanent disability and quantum of loss of earning capacity.
Other benefits highlighted by ESIC Guwahati regional director were dependents benefit, maternity benefit, funeral expenses, conveyance and loss of wages, money order facilities, conferment expenses, rehabilitation allowance, vocational training, old age medical care and unemployed allowance scheme.
Meanwhile, Dr. Z Kheshito Zhimo, administrative medical officer ESIC Scheme Dimapur gave a presentation on ESI medical scheme in Nagaland.