ESIC Gets Rs 2225 Cr - Spends Rs 1249 Cr On Benefits

New Delhi, Feb 14 (UNI) The contribution income of the Employee State Insurance Corporation rose substantially-- twenty per cent-- during the current financial year, the Labour Ministry reported this evening.

Revised estimates submitted at the Corporation's 138th meeting put the contribution figure at Rs 2225.52 crore, showing about 20 per cent increase over the 2006-07 Budget Estimates.

The meeting was presided over by Minister of State for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes who Fernandes who released booklets on 'Useful Tips for the Employers' and 'Claim Procedures to Social Security Benefits under ESI Scheme'.

The increase was attributed mainly to enhancement of wage ceiling and ''vigorous'' efforts by the Corporation to realise the outstanding dues, a Ministry statement said.

The Revised Estimates indicate that the Corporation ''is poised'' to collect revenue receipts of Rs 2895 crore this year and likely to spend Rs 1249 crore in benefits to subscribers-- Rs 959 crore in medical benefits and Rs 286 crore in cash benefits to the insured individuals and their families.

The revenue receipts are stated to have registered a steady growth and the cost of administering kept ''far below the permissible limit of 15 per cent.'' An Amnesty Scheme for employees and insured persons for withdrawal of prosecution cases under Sections 84 and 85 of the ESI Act has been extended up to March 31, the statement said.

The scheme launched for six months from August 1, 2006 drew 2,040 applications and prosecution cases were withdrawn against 270 applicants on payment of Rs 1.20 crore, while the rest were being processed, it said.

UNI