Contribution to ESIC up 14% at Rs 1,933.56cr in 2005-06

New Delhi, Jan 10 (UNI) Employees' contribution to the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) was up by 14.47 per cent at Rs 1,933.56 crore during 2005-06 as against Rs 1,689.08 crore during the preceding year.

The ESIC Corporation incurred an expenditure of Rs 828.44 crore during 2005-06 on provision of medical benefit to the beneficiaries under the ESI scheme, according to official figures released here today.

Under the ESI Act, member employee is responsible for depositing the employee's and employer's contributions at the rate of 1.75 per cent and 4.75 per cent of the wages respectively in respect of employees drawing wages up to Rs 7,500 per month.

The expenditure includes 1/8th share of the state governments, as well as the money that has been spent by them over and above the per capita ceiling.

The highest per capita expenditure per annum of Rs 1,668.80 was recorded in Madhya Pradesh and the lowest per capita expenditure of Rs 418.68 was reported from Uttaranchal.

About 1.75 crore cases were provided medical care during the year. These included 83.37 lakh and 91.51 lakh old cases. About 4.05 lakh cases were admitted in hospitals while 414.18 lakh were referred to specialists for investigations. By the end of March 2006, the Corporation had commissioned 18,860 beds in 144 ESI hospitals and 42 hospital annexes.

An additional 4,396 beds had been reserved in various state government hospitals for exclusive use of ESI beneficiaries. For out-patient services, 1,422 ESI service dispensaries had been commissioned during 2005-06.

UNI