While speaking at an event during the foundation stone laying ceremony for a new OPD building, Gangwar have assured all kinds of support for strengthening the ESI Hospital network in Telangana and sought for cooperation from the state government to speed up the processes required.

 He further added that the government has initiated several measures to provide monthly pension to the workers in unorganised sector. He said that the Centre is committed to the welfare of the labour force in the country and has introduced two bills in the Lok Sabha, related to wage and occupational safety of workers.

He has also said that currently, there are over 450 ESI hospitals across the country and plans are to set up hospitals in other districts too. They are dedicating the ESI Medical College and Hospital in Hyderabad to the nation.

 The new multi-storied Outpatient Department Block have been constructed at a cost of Rs. 124 crores will be providing medical services in various departments like ENT, Ophthalmology, General Medicine, Dermatology etc.

The medical college and hospital with an intake of 100 MBBS admissions every year, has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 534 crores.

The 150-bed super speciality and 470-bed hospital affiliated to the college has been equipped with state-of-the-art equipment like Modular Operation Theatres, ICU and provide quality medical facilities.

The Minister said steps would be taken to ensure that there is no dearth of doctors or paramedical staff at ESI hospitals.

The government has reduced the contribution under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act to 4% from 6.5%. 

This move Gangwar said, is expected to increase the take home salary of workers as well as reduce the financial burden of employers.

This includes a reduction of 1.5% in employers’ contribution to 3.25% from 4.75% and 1% reduction in employees’ contribution to 0.75% from 1.75%, the labour minister said.  

The Minister, further said that the Government is committed to ensure wage, jobs and social security for all workers including those in the unorganised sector.

40 crore workers from unorganised sector will be covered under ESIC and EPFO, including building construction workers, beedi workers, auto drivers, rickshaw workers, and provided health services under social security scheme, the minister said.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Home, G. Kishan Reddy stressed the need for announcing the ESI Medical College and Hospital in Hyderabad a model Hospital.

Stating that the Centre have released Rs.1200 crore for setting up an AIIMS hospital in Telangana.

He has asked the state Government to implement Ayushman Bharat programme also, so that number of people would get health benefits in the state. Kishan Reddy said that ESI Hospitals are providing better medical care than many private hospitals.

Former Union Minister B. Dattatreya, Ch. Malla Reddy, Minister for Labour and Employment, Government of Telangana, Raj Kumar, Director General, ESIC, were also present. Earlier Hiralal Samaria, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment welcomed the gathering.