Govt must be sensitive to labourers’ needs: PM Modi

New Delhi, Oct 27 (KNN) Expressing concern at the large number of grievances of labourers and EPF beneficiaries, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Government must be sensitive to labourers’ needs.

PM said that in a democracy, the labourers should not have to struggle to receive their legitimate dues.

He said this while reviewing the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, which largely include EPFO, ESIC, and Labour Commissioners.

Modi chaired his sixteenth interaction through PRAGATI - the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.

The Prime Minister Secretary (Department of Labour) outlined the improvements brought in the grievance redressal system, such as introduction of online transfer of claims; electronic challans; mobile applications and SMS alerts; linking UAN to Aadhaar numbers; introduction of tele-medicine; and empanelling of more super-speciality hospitals.

He also requested introduction of a system so that the process of finalization of retirement benefits for all employees can begin a year in advance. In case of an untimely death, he said the papers should be completed within a specified time, and officers should be made accountable for the same.

It may be recalled that the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Mohali recently filed a PIL in the Punjab And Haryana High Court against ESIC regarding poor facilities being provided to Insured Persons in ESI Hospitals / Dispensaries in an around Mohali.

In this regard, the Mohali Industries Association (MIA) said that the industry has been submitting a memorandum of recurring problems being faced by Employees who are covered under ESI Scheme.to Bandaru Dattatreya, Union Minister for Labour and Employment.

The Hospital/Dispensaries in and around Mohali Areas neither have sufficient Doctors and supporting Staff nor have sufficient medicines/ surgery facilities which are the urgent and important requirements of industrial workers, the MSMEs from the region complained.

Similar complains have been brought out by industry associations from various cities in the country. (KNN Bureau)