STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: During the fortnight week of ESIC foundation day celebrations commencing from 24th February, a seminar was organised in the premises of Regional Office, Jammu on Monday.
The seminar was graced by Tejwant Singh Reen, ESIC, Regional Board Member, J and K; Harbans Choudhary, Representative Bhartiya Majdoor Sangh; Dr. Sham Parsad Gupta, Administrative Medical Officer, J&K; I.A Zargar, Manager (HR) ASCOMS and Hospital; Raman Bhagat, Manager (HR), Peak Automobile; Sanjay Kumar, Dy. Director, ESIC Regional Office, Jammu; Parveen Moudgil, Dy. Director, ESIC Regional Office, Jammu and A.K Katoch, Assistant Director, ESIC Regional Office, Jammu.
Parveen Moudgil briefed the participants that the seminar was organized to make employers/employees aware about various provisions of ESI Scheme, especially benefits available to the insured persons. During his brief, he laid emphasis on the Scheme for Promoting Registration for Employers and Employees (SPREE). He informed that outcome of the SPREE was not as per expectation though the department had organized six seminars at different locations to apprise the employers about the provisions of the scheme.
Tajwant Singh Reen, Member Regional Board, admitted that of late the medical facilities had increased but much more was required to be done. He informed that beneficiaries were not satisfied with the medical facilities available in the ESI Dispensaries. He advised that ESI Department should make more publicity of the SPREE by giving ads in newspapers etc.
Harbans Choudhary, representative of BMS desired that the employee should be made aware of the benefit available under the scheme and also the exact procedure to be followed for reimbursement of medical bills.
Sham Parsad Gupta, Administrative Medical Office informed that all medical bills upto 2014-15 had been reimbursed. He also informed that the proposal for setting up of Society/Subsidiary Corporation was under active consideration and after formation of the society many problems regarding funds etc will be removed.
During the discussion the employers’ representative as well the member BMS requested that some arrangement may be made for referring the orthopedic patient to empanelled hospitals in neighbouring State, like Punjab as the existing facility in the State was not satisfactory.