Union Minister Seeks ESIC Sub-Regional Office At Odisha’s Jharsuguda; Early Opening Of Dispensaries

Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday sought the intervention of Labour and Employment Minister Bhupender Yadav for creation of an ESIC Sub-regional Office at Jharsuguda under ESIC Regional Office, Bhubaneswar.

In a letter, Pradhan informed that ESIC Regional Office (RO) at Bhubaneswar is located in the eastern side of Odisha and thus, it is not easily accessible for the employers and beneficiaries from the western part of the state. Hence, a proposal has been put forth for creation of a Sub-regional Office at Jharsuguda, he added.

The Minister said among 30 districts in Odisha, 17 districts are nearer and easily accessible to ESIC RO, Bhubaneswar while 13 districts are comparatively nearer to the proposed Sub-regional Office at Jharsuguda.

Moreover, Jharsuguda is considered one of the most developed and urbanised areas in Odisha because of concentration of a large number of small-scale and large-scale industries.

It is estimated that more than 30 major employers functioning in and around Jharsuguda and the adjoining Rourkela area in the Sundargarh district.

Furthermore, it is also learnt that though most other states have at least one or more number of Sub-regional Offices, but Odisha has no such office at present, he stated in the letter.

Dispensaries

Dharmendra Pradhan also requested the Labour Minister to expedite the setting up of 12 new dispensaries at different locations in Odisha.

A proposal has been made to Odisha Labour & ESI Department for setting up of 12 new dispensaries at different locations in Odisha, and for shifting of one dispensary from Brajrajnagar to Belpahar in Jharsuguda.

The proposal for setting up of 12 new dispensaries at Talcher, Jaleswar, Nilagiri, Soro, Dhamara, Trisulia, Adaspur, Jagatsinghpur, Joda,Nimapada, Banai and Koira and shifting of one dispensary from Brajrajnagar to Belpahar in Jharsuguda was submitted to the ESI Corporation, Pradhan stated in the letter.