Lok Sabha Question No. 1055 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-26
Subject: Social Security Relief Measurers for Dependents
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: M V V Satyanarayana, Goddeti Madhavi, Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Adala Prabhakara Reddy, Kuruva Gorantla Madhav, Pocha Brahmananda Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1055

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2021

## SOCIAL SECURITY RELIEF MEASURERS FOR DEPENDENTS

## 1055. SHRI M.V.V. SATYANARAYANA:

SHRIMATI GODDETI MADHAVI:

SHRI N. REDDEPPA:

SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

SHRI ADALA PRABHAKARA REDDY:

SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV:

SHRI POCHA BRAHMANANDA REDDY:

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

- (a)whether  the  Employees'  State  Insurance  Corporation  (ESIC)  and Employee  Provident  Fund  Organisation  (EPFO)  have  revised  their the
- schemes to provide social security relief measures for dependents of workers who died due to COVID-19;
- (b)if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  number  of  people  who  have benefitted through the revision of schemes;
- (c)whether EPFO has now allowed its members to avail a second nonrefundable advance to meet their financial needs during COVID-19; and

(d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) & (b): In order to provide help and succour to the families of the Insured  Persons  (IPs)  who  died  due  to  COVID-19,  Employees'  State Insurance  Corporation  (ESIC)  has  on  03.06.2021  launched     ESIC

COVID-19 Relief Scheme. Under this scheme 90% of average wages of deceased Insured Person shall be paid to the eligible dependents of the Insured Person who died due to COVID-19. The Scheme is effective for  a  period  of  two  years  w.e.f.  24.03.2020.  The  eligibility  conditions for relief under the scheme are:-

- i. The  IP  who  died  due  to  COVID-19  disease  must  have  been registered on the ESIC online portal at least three months prior to the  date  of  diagnosis  of  COVID-19  disease  resulting  in  his/  her death.
- ii. The deceased IP must have been in employment on the date of diagnosis  of  COVID-19  disease  and  contributions  for  at  least  70 days  should  have  been  paid  or  payable  in  respect  of  him/  her during a period of maximum one year immediately preceding the diagnosis of COVID-19 disease resulting in death.
- iii. The  spouse  of  the  deceased  IP/IW  shall  also  be  eligible  for Medical care on depositing Rs 120/- every year.
2.                Till  09.07.2021,  total  1225  claims  have  been  received out  of which 307 have been sanctioned.
3. Further, the Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions  Act,  1952  envisages  benefits,  namely  (i)  maintaining  of Employees' Provident Fund accumulations, (ii) Employees' Pension and Employees'  Deposit  Linked  Insurance  Scheme  (EDLI).  In  order  to provide relief to the dependents of workers who died during the period, the  scheme  of  EDLI  was  amended  providing  for  minimum  assurance benefit of ₹ 2.5 lakh to eligible family members of deceased employees. In addition, the maximum insurance amount under EDLI Scheme, 1976 has been enhanced from Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh.  As on 28.06.2021, 201 persons have benefited through amendment in EDLI Scheme and enhanced benefits amounting Rs. 5.57 crore have been paid.

(c) & (d): Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, 1952 was amended in March, 2020 by inserting  the provision  for  allowing  nonrefundable advance to EPF members during Pandemic /Epidemic. This provision  allowed  EPF  members  to  avail  advance  from  their  EPF account to the extent of 75 per cent of their balance or three-month wages whichever is less. The EPF members who have already availed the first COVID-19 advance can now opt for a second advance. As on 15.07.2021,  the  number  of  claims  settled  under  second  COVID-19 advance facility is 4,62,816.

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