Monday, January 12, 2015

Take over two ESIC medical colleges by Jan 31: Centre

Chennai:

The Centre has given Tamil Nadu a deadline of January 31 to take over
Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) medical colleges in
Chennai and Coimbatore.

Addressing reporters here on Saturday, Union Minister of State for
Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya on Saturday said that Centre
has till now spent Rs 10,400 crore for construction of 13 ESIC medical
colleges, including two in Tamil Nadu.

“To complete the colleges, his ministry requires additional Rs 3,000
crore besides maintenance of the colleges would require Rs 80 crore
each year,” he said.

“When we reviewed it, we found the services would not be upto the
satisfaction of the insured persons. We have decided to gift the
colleges to the state government free of cost,” he said.

“The states have been notified and we have given them a cut off date
of January 31 to respond if they are willing or not,” the minister
said.

To a query on protest by students seeking recognition of Medical
Council of India for ESI medical college in Chennai, he said he
listened to the problems of the students and parents and the issue
will be taken up in New Delhi.

He also said that four new ESI hospitals would be set up in Tuticorin,
Kanyakumari, Sriperumbudur and Tiruppur. All of them are 100 bed
hospitals and would be coming up at a cost of Rs 70 to Rs 80 crore.

He also said that a total of Rs 27,000 crore is in inoperative account
of EPFO. His ministry would be launching a nationwide through EPFO
field officers to ensure the amount is distributed to the workers, the
minister said.

He also said that a smartcard UWIN will be launched for unorganised
workers to synchronise it with social security schemes of Rashtriya
Swasthya Bima Yojana, Aaam AAdmi Bima Youjana and old age pension.

He also said the Centre has decentralised the system of administration
in ESIC. “Now there will be a state level executive committee in all
ESI hospitals headed by principal secretary of labour. It will have
powers for empanelment of super-speciality hospitals, enhancement of
beds besides repair and maintenance of hospitals. They have powers to
sanction a maximum of Rs 5 crore funds,” he said.

He also said that his ministry would convert the employment exchanges
to National Career Services Centre. They will provide SMSes and other
job related information for job aspirants on their mobile phone. “We
are planning 100 model centres in the first phase,” he said.

Box:

Centre concerned over labour issues in Nokia, Foxconn

Chennai:

Minister of State for Labour and employment has expressed concern over
the labour issues in Nokia, Foxconn as well as layoffs in TCS.

This comes under the state administration. If the state fails to look
into the issue and it is brought to our notice then we will look into
it, he said

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