Jeypore: Though the Chief Minister has been raising the issue of Central negligence over the years, this seems to have no impact on the BJP-led government at the Centre.
Of 30 districts of the state, workers in 10 tribal dominated districts have no access to Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) services, a report said. This has not only exposed the Centre’s step-motherly attitude towards the state but also reflects its ‘concern’ for tribals, said locals.
ESI Act had been passed in Parliament in 1948 and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), an autonomous body under Union Labour and Employment ministry was created and started functioning from February 24, 1952. Since then, it has been addressing the health and social security issues of workers engaged in organised and unorganised sectors of the country. While the scheme had begun with registration of only 1,20,00 workers of the country, the number of policy holders, at present, has reached 14 lakhs only in Orissa . However, most of the workers have reportedly been deprived of the benefits.
What to say about underdeveloped districts like Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Nuapada, workers in relatively advanced districts including Kendrapara and Nayagarh have also no access to this service, it was learnt.
It was alleged that 1/3rd of population in Orissa have no access to ESI service thanks to Central apathy. While the NDA-led government is trying to bring more workers under ESI umbrella, it is not clear as to why such a large population of the state is deprived of it.
According to reports, the Centre is yet to approve the state’s proposal for ESI hospitals at Balasore, Paradip, Berhampur and Jeypore.
The state government needed a 100-bed hospital at Paradip and three 30-bed hospitals at Balasore, Berhampur and Jeypore. There are five ESI hospitals in Orissa and proposals for one each in Jajpur and Angul district has been approved by the Centre.
Similarly, the state government’s proposals for 50 more pathological laboratories and 19 dispensaries are yet to be given nod by the Centre.
Thousands of workers of the state have been deprived of health care services due to lackadaisical attitude of Union labour ministry, members of several organisations here alleged and demanded immediate opening of an ESI hospital in Jeypore, the commercial hub of undivided Koraput district. PNN
