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Consumer Forum penalises Mohali ESIC officials; orders to pay Rs 15000 compensation to MSME worker

Updated: Apr 26, 2017 10:05:54am
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Consumer forum penalises Mohali ESIC officials; orders to pay Rs 15000 compensation to MSME worker

New Delhi, Apr 26 (KNN) The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum penalized the Senior State Medical Commissioner, Social Security officer and Director Health Services of The Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) for delaying the reimbursement of medical bill to an MSME worker in Mohali.

The forum instructed the ESIC to pay an amount of Rs 15000 as compensation to the worker.

Highlighting the gravity of problems the workers have been facing, Jasbir Singh, Chairman of Mohali Industries Association (MIA) spoke to KNN. He said that while the compensation is in a way relief to the poor worker, yet the range of issues in which ESIC is harassing the workers is far more complex.

He further said that this case is not one in isolation; the workers have been facing issues along the same line with ESIC since last 6-7 years where each time an insured worker approaches for treatment at the ESIC hospital, he isn’t able to avail the services due to unavailability of doctor and proper infrastructure. Following which the worker has to approach private hospitals and then apply for reimbursements. When the corporation denies reimbursement of bills, the workers are compelled to knock the doors of the court.

Explaining the helplessness of the MSME workers, Jasbir added that these workers are very poor and lack proper organization, they can’t protest and agitate.

Jasbir also quoted number of cases that are still pending at the court and forums in which the workers have filed complaints to claim the reimbursements of the medical bills.

“We have approached every possible official including the Director, Secretary, Health Minister, Labour Minister and senior leaders in Delhi including Union Minister Harsh Vardhan. We have also written to the Prime Minister’s office five times, but our voice demanding permanent solution for this menace hasn’t been heard so far “said the Chairman.

He further informed that the MIA has filed a PIL at the Punjab-Chandigarh high court against the inadequacies at the Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospitals leading to harassment of MSME workers. The court will hear the plea on 5th May. (KNN/ DA)

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