Bhubaneswar: Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Santosh Gangwar Tuesday said his ministry is willing to open ESI hospitals in different parts of the state, but there will be no ESI Medical College in Bhubaneswar.
“We are in the process of expanding the ESI network in the state and also improving health infrastructure and facilities. In other unserved parts of Odisha where the number of workers is more than 20,000, a 30-bedded ESI hospital could be opened while a 100-bedded facility needs workers in excess of 50,000.”
The minister was speaking at the regional conference of Eastern State Labour Ministers. When asked about the earlier proposal of a medical college in Bhubaneswar by ESIC, the minister said, “There are certain guidelines by the Supreme Court on opening a medical college. The court has told us the work of our ministry is to ensure the health of workers and not open new medical colleges.”
The minister also said that the regional conference was organised to get the views of states on the upcoming legislations and on the issues faced by the states in rolling out other new labour laws. He said, “Earlier, there were disparities between states in terms of wages. Now we have minimum wage code which mandates fixation of minimum wages and ensures timely payment by employees. We want the states to come onboard for such laws to ensure justice and welfare of labourers.”
He also said the government has worked out a pension scheme for the unorganised sector labourers. “Now not only government servants but unorganised sector labouters are also entitled for pensions. States have a key role to play in this. We want to ensure cooperation from states for the successful rollout of new labour laws and schemes,” the minister said.