Lok Sabha Question No. 201 (STARRED), answered on 2017-07-31
Subject: MoU between ESIC and DGFASLI
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 201 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2017

## MoU BETWEEN ESIC AND DGFASLI

- *201. SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Employees'  State  Insurance  Corporation  (ESIC)  and  Directorate  General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) for collaboration in the field of occupational health and prevention of occupational injuries and diseases;
- (b)if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  main  objective/purpose  of  the MoU;
- (c)whether doctors and para-medical staff etc. and the beneficiaries of ESI Scheme  will  largely  be  benefited  by  the  special  activities  and  training modules of DGFASLI;
- (d)if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)the other steps taken by the Government for providing social security for the workers across the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  201  FOR  31.07.2017  BY  SHRI  DHANANJAY MAHADIK AND DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT REGARDING MoU BETWEEN ESIC AND DGFASLI.

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) on  11.07.2017  for  collaborating  in  the  field  of  occupational  health  and  to reduce the occurrence of work related injuries and diseases.

(c) & (d): Yes.  It  has  been  envisaged  under  the  MoU  that  ESIC  shall provide  scientific  and  technical  support  to  the  projects  in  the  field  of occupational health. The DGFASLI equipped with the team of professionals in  the  area  of  Occupational  Safety,  Occupational  Medicine,  Ergonomics, Hygiene,  Physiology  and  Psychology  will  work  along  with  the  superspeciality  team  of  doctors  of  ESIC  at  various  locations  for  improving  the occupational and clinical aspects of wellbeing of the workers.

- (e): The  Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  is  committed  for  the social security of the labour force in the country. The major steps taken by the Ministry in this regard are:
- i)  The  Maternity  Benefit  (Amendment)  Act,  2017  has  been  amended.  This ensures  increased  Maternity  Benefit  from  12  weeks  to  26  weeks  for  two surviving children and 12 weeks for more than two children, Commissioning Mothers and Adopting Mothers.
- ii)    Both  the  EPFO and ESIC have launched special schemes which aims to enroll  left  out  employees,  including  contractual,  casual  and  temporary workers.

iii)    Benefits under Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976 has been increased from Rs.3.60 lakhs to Rs.6.00 lakh.

- iv)  Universal Account Number (UAN) has been made compulsory and online credit system introduced.
- v)  Wage ceiling for coverage under ESI Act, 1948 has been increased from Rs. 15,000/- to Rs.21,000/- w.e.f. 1 st  January, 2017.

vi) ESIC 2.0 initiatives on digitization of health records, online availability of medical  reports,  Abhiyaan  Indradhanush,  Tele-Medicine  facility  and  Geotagging of ESIC hospitals etc.

- vii) Expansion of ESIC to cover complete districts in all 393 districts where these clusters are located. 325 districts already covered fully.

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