Minister for Labour, Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra has called for adequate health cover for skilled and unskilled workforce in Jammu and Kashmir, saying their welfare and wellbeing is priority of the government. Taking a review of medical facilities available to this segment of society under Employees State Insurance Scheme, the Minister emphasized the need for close synergy by the service providers and the department overseeing the welfare of skilled and unskilled workforce to ensure unhindered health cover to them.
Mr Sadhotra, who is also the Chairman of ESIS Board said that the government is seized of infrastructural and human resource needs of the Corporation and assured that this aspect will get focused attention. Appreciating the role of ESIS for the welfare of the employees, the Minister said that the government will supplement the efforts of the Corporation to ensure best possible health care to the targeted segments of workers. While several steps have been taken in this regard, he said more is required to be done and “the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will do whatever possible in a phased manner”.
The Minister, who was chairing the meeting of General Purpose Medical Care Club Committee (GPMCSC), sought implementation of the scheme with a sense of devotion so that more and more benefits accrue to the workers. For this purpose, he stressed the need for close cooperation between the employers and the representatives of workers.The Board has been carved out in 2003 though the scheme has been in force since 1989. The Board discussed various agenda points, took review of the functioning of various institutions and discussed ways and means for further streamlining their functioning.The meeting was attended Mr Michael Dias, Member of ESIS Board, B.A Runyal, Secretary Labour and Employment, Ms Nirmal harma, Commissioner Labour and Employment besides C.P Singh employees representative.The meeting also took review of the infrastructural upgradation of the institutions under the scheme.