Lok Sabha Question No. 377 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Extension of ESIC Scheme to unorganised Sector Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 377 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## EXTENSION OF ESIC SCHEME TO UNORGANISED SECTOR

## WORKERS

## 377.  SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government's  has  met  the  target  of  extending  the Employees  State  Insurance  Corporation  (ESIC)  scheme  to  all districts across the country by the end of 2022;
- (b)the details of progress made under the scheme since 2014 Kerala State and Kasargod Constituency year-wise;
- (c)whether  the  Government  has  any  plans/  schemes  to  cover unorganised sector in ESIC; and
- (d)if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  progress  made  in  this  regard,
- State-wise including kerala?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): As on 05.02.2024, the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) scheme is notified in all the states and union territories. Out of the 778 districts of the country at present, the ESI scheme is extended in 661 districts, which includes 556 fully covered and 105 partially covered  districts  under  the  scheme.   Necessary  steps  have  been taken by the ESIC to extend the ESI scheme in the remaining districts also.  The details of the implementation of the ESI scheme in the state since 2014 are placed at Annexure.

Also, the ESI Corporation has given in principle approval for setting up of a 100 bedded ESI hospitals at Kattappana in district Idukki and one at Perumbavoor in district Ernakulam in Kerala as well as 10 new ESI dispensaries.  In addition, the secondary and tertiary care medical services are also provided through two tie-up hospitals in Kasargod.

The Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 is applicable to all  factories  and  establishments  having  ten  or  more  employees, drawing  wages  up  to  Rs  21,000/-  (Rs.  25,000/-  for  Persons  with disability).  As such, the Act does not apply to the unorganised sector.

In the Code on Social Security, 2020, provision of benefits to the unorganised sector is contained in section 45 and section 109 of  the  Code  whereby  the  Central  Government  and  the  State Governments can frame scheme for unorganised workers. The Code has not come into force so far.

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ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 377 FOR 05.02.2024 ASKED BY SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN REGARDING EXTENSION  OF  ESIC  SCHEME  TO  UNORGANISED SECTOR WORKERS.

## Implementation of Employees' State Insurance (ESI) scheme (ESIS) in the state of Kerala since 2014

| Details of facility   | Year   | Year                                  | Year                                      | Year                                      | Year                                  | Year                                  | Year                                  | Year                                  | Year                                  |
|-----------------------|--------|---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|                       |        | 2014                                  | 2015                                      | 2016                                      | 2017                                  | 2018                                  | 2019 2020                             | 2021                                  | 2022- 23                              |
| Districts implemented |        | Partially implemented in 13 districts | Partially implemented in all 14 districts | Partially implemented in all 14 districts | Fully implemented in all 14 districts | Fully implemented in all 14 districts | Fully implemented in all 14 districts | Fully implemented in all 14 districts | Fully implemented in all 14 districts |

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