ESIC intensifies registration campaign across Nagaland

DIMAPUR — The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, in collaboration with the Office of the Labour Commissioner, Government of Nagaland, has intensified its awareness campaign for registration under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme across Nagaland.

The ESI scheme is a comprehensive social insurance programme established by the Employees’ State Insurance Act of 1948. It is designed to protect employees, as defined in the Act, from events such as sickness, maternity, disablement and death due to work-related injuries, while also providing medical care to insured individuals and their families.

The scheme applies to factories and other establishments such as road transport, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, newspapers, shops, education/ medical institutions, where more than 10 persons are employed. Employees in these sectors who earn wages up to INR 21,000 (or INR 25,000 for persons with disabilities) per month are entitled to social security coverage under the ESI Act.

The ESI scheme is funded through contributions from both employers and employees, with the employer's contribution set at 3.25% of the wages paid to employees, while employees contribute 0.75%.

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An awareness campaign regarding the ESI scheme and its benefits in Dimapur was held at Hotel Acacia on Tuesday, which saw the participation of employers from various private sectors.

Resource speakers namely Robert L Guite, Regional Director of ESIC (NER), Guwahati; Pranay Sinha, Zonal Insurance Commissioner of the NE Zone; Avile Vitso, Labour Commissioner and CEO of the ESI scheme in Nagaland; and Ahtesham, ESIC Deputy Director of Coordination and Implementation; discussed the advantages of the scheme.

It was informed that eight districts in Nagaland have been covered under the scheme and the registration process is underway. Additionally, three dispensaries have been established in Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung for the benefit of the eligible population.

Benefits under ESI scheme

Medical benefit: Comprehensive medical care, including treatment, drugs, injections, specialist consultations, and hospitalization for insured persons and their family members.

Sickness benefit: 70% of the average daily wage for up to 91 days in two consecutive benefit periods:

Enhanced sickness benefit: 100% of average daily wages upto 14 days for tubectomy and 7 days for vasectomy, extendable based on medical advice.

Extended sickness benefit: 80% of the average daily wages for upto 124 days over a two-year period.

Temporary disablement benefit: 90% of the average daily wages for the duration of temporary disablement.

Permanent disablement benefit: Upto 90% of the average daily wages for life.

Dependents’ benefits: 90% of average daily wages shareable in fixed proportion among all dependants.

Maternity benefits: 100% of the average daily wages upto 26 weeks in case of confinement, upto two surviving children, 12 weeks for more than two surviving children.

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Other benefits include Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana, unemployment allowances under the Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana, confinement expenses, funeral expenses, vocational training, physical rehabilitation, and medical care for retired insured persons.

Resource speakers shared that there is no limit on treatment costs, including for primary, secondary, and tertiary care, unlike other health insurance schemes. However, beneficiaries must follow established procedures and guidelines.

Additionally, ESIC has launched the "Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees (SPREE)," a one-time initiative to encourage the self-registration of unregistered employers and those who have not registered all eligible employees. This initiative is valid from July 1 to December 31, 2025, and aims to expand social security coverage under ESIC without imposing contributions, penalties, or legal actions for the previous period.

The awareness campaign concluded with an interactive session.