ESIC to provide cash benefit during job loss
New Delhi, Sep 19: Taking cognizance of lack of long-term jobs, the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Wednesday said it has rolled out a scheme to financially support those who lost their jobs even as it relaxed norms for its other benefits.
The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), in its 175th meeting on Tuesday here, approved 'Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna' for insured persons covered under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, the Ministry said in a statement.
"The current scenario of employment in India which has transformed from a long-term employment to fixed short-term engagement in the form of contract and temping... This scheme is a relief payable in cash directly to their bank account in case of unemployment and while they search for new engagement," it said.
Detailed instructions including eligibility conditions and application format will be issued separately, it added.
The corporation further approved reimbursement of Rs 10 per person to employers for seeding of Aadhar (UID) in ESIC database of their workers and their family members for enabling the insured with benefits that require longer contribution.
"It will curtail the multiple registrations of same Insured Persons and thus enable them to avail the benefits requiring longer contributory conditions," it said.
For super specialty treatment, the ESIC relaxed the eligibility condition by reducing the requirement of insurable employment of two years to six months with contribution requirement of only 78 days.
For availing super specialty treatment for dependents of Insured Person, the eligibility has now been relaxed to insurable employment of one year with 156 days of contributions.
"This relaxation will immensely help the Insured Persons and their beneficiaries to avail super specialty treatment free of cost as per revised eligibility," the Ministry said.
Further, the corporation approved the proposal to increase the funeral expenses from existing Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 being paid on the death of Insured Person.
The ESIC is for establishments having more than 10 workers with monthly wage ceiling of Rs 21,000.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
“Full prepared..going to win,” Congress MP KC Venugopal ahead of Kerala polls
EC not functioning as a neutral institution: Venugopal
Congress MP K. C. Venugopal on Monday raised concerns over the election schedule announced by the Election Commission of India for the upcoming Kerala Assembly election, questioning the timing of the poll dates and alleging that the schedule leaves limited time for campaigning.
Speaking to news agency ANI in Delhi after the poll panel announced elections in five states and Union Territories, Venugopal said that the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) are fully prepared for the elections and confident of victory. At the same time, he questioned the pattern of dates announced by the Election Commission.
“We are fully prepared, we are going to win the elections... You can see how the Election Commission has set the dates. The first phase of elections is on the 9th, nominations are due until the 23rd, scrutiny is on the 24th, nominations can be withdrawn until the 26th, and after that, there are 11 days for campaigning,” he said.
“As for Kerala, there is Easter and Good Friday in the first week...The Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier... The counting date is on May 4th, so what was the point of holding elections in Kerala so early? What is their intention behind holding elections on the same day in Kerala, Puducherry, and Assam?... We are confident that we will win, but the people of the country are seeing the biased attitude of the Election Commission...,” he added.
He further stated that his party was ready for elections irrespective of the dates announced by the poll body.
“We are going to win the election. India's strategy has been set up. And we are all ready for winning this election. But one thing as far as declaring election, even though they are giving only for five days, we are going to win the election. We have no problem,” he said.
Detailing the poll schedule while questioning the time available for campaigning, he stated, “but you can see the pattern of date which the election commission announced. Yesterday they declared election, and today they notified us. The first phase of election on April 9th, filing of nomination will be over on the 23rd of this month, 24th scrutiny, 26th withdrawal of nomination. After 26, four plus seven, 11 days campaign.”
“As far as Kerala is concerned, April first week is a holy week. The holiday week means, Good Friday is there. Nobody will do anything on Good Friday. Easter is the big festival. These festivals are natural, you have to see that. Among the 11 days, working days, two, three days will go for holidays. Then hardly seven, eight days for campaigning in this election for candidates,” the Congress MP questioned.
The Congress leader said the Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier if there was a need for an early election schedule.
Questioning the urgency behind placing Kerala in the first phase of polling, he added that the counting date is much later.
“Which is the date of counting? Fourth May. Then what is the urgency of putting Kerala in the first phase without giving sufficient time for candidates? And putting Kerala, Puducherry, Assam together, what is the intention behind that?” Venugopal questioned.
He also alleged that the Election Commission was not functioning as a neutral institution.
“The Election commission is completely losing that capacity as a neutral player. You can see 14 of our prime minister's programs over and on the 15th they announce the election, 16th notification comes,” he said.
Venugopal further stated that such tactics would not affect the Congress’ prospects in the election.
“They think that this type of techniques and tactics, because of these techniques and tactics, UDF is going to lose, and Congress is going to lose. This is their complete dream only. This is not going to happen. We are very much confident at any cost, whether they are not giving any time also, we are going to win the election,” he said.
“But the people of India are watching this. The tricks of the election commission. To restrict the campaign, people of India are watching. This I want to bring into the notice of the nation. That's all,” Venugopal said.
The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for the Kerala Assembly election. Polling in the state will be held in a single phase on April 9 while the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
