NIT’s convention centre on ESIC’s land affects workers health services
| Date :08-Jun-2022 |
Staff Reporter
Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) dispensary at Somwaripeth is facing a threat to its existence as Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) is dilly-dallying on matter of handing over possession of the land despite depositing of requisite money. To make matters worse, NIT constructed a big convention hall even while the land was already allotted for ESIC dispensary. And now that the remaining land being in prime location, vested interest is eyeing it with ulterior motives, which has doubled the threat to ESIC presence in the South Nagpur area where large population of industrial workers reside.
Three land parcels were allotted for construction of ESIC clinics in city, one at Panchpaoli, second one at Bagadganj and third one that of Somwaripeth. While ESIC dispensaries at Bagadganj and Panchpaoli were constructed a few years back, that at Somwaripeth remained in pipeline due to lack of funds.
These land parcels were allocated way back in 1967 and now NIT has unilaterally constructed a convention hall at Somwaripeth land allotted to
ESIC and this is in fact violation of rules, stated Mukund Muley, Secretary, Rashtriya Mazdoor Congress (INTUC). The total land at Somwaripeth was 1.7 acre and post construction of hall, about 16,000 sq.ft is left but even now NIT officials are digging their heels and not ready to transfer the land deed in name of ESIC, he claimed.
The present unit of ESIC dispensary is falling short of needs as over the year number of beneficiaries has grown to 12,000. Due to lackadaisical attitude of NIT officials, ESIC is contemplating shifting the dispensary to alternative space to ensure that beneficiaries are provided proper treatment. Dr S R Nalgundwar, Medical Administration Officer, ESIC, Nagpur, in a communication to Muley mentioned about shifting of Somwaripeth Dispensary to alternate location. This was in response to issue of inconvenience to industrial workers highlighted by Muley due to cramped space at Somwaripeth.
As per rules, workers in industries having monthly salary upto Rs. 21,000 are covered under ESIC Scheme. At Somwaripeth, daily 600 to 700 beneficiaries visit the dispensary to avail various health services due to affordable rates compared to that prevailing in market. Muley said in Nagpur Division alone 3.63 lakh beneficiaries use ESIC services and in Vidarbha the number of workers number 12 lakh. Due to lack of space at Somwaripeth, the workers have to stand in blistering heat and sometimes in rains as the dispensary building was not constructed till date.
During the Covid-19 two waves, as workers developed sickness the load at ESIC Dispensaries increased. Muley took up the matter with State Government and the working hours were increased by two hours that benefited the workers However the present space at Somwaripeth Dispensary is woefully short of requirement and Muley pressed for fast decision on construction of new dispensary of the remaining land to could vanish.
Already State Government is tightening the fiscal rules and in case ESIC shifts its Somwaripeth Dispensary to new location, a hefty rent could jeopardise the health services of industrial workers. Since NIT and ESIC both are part of Maharashtra Government, Muley said there should not be any problem in granting lease for ESIC Dispensary at Somwaripeth area.