Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the ESIC health scheme has been a boon to millions of workers. He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the 500-bed Rs.580 crore ESIC Medical College and Hospital near Singanallur in Coimbatore here on Tuesday.

In his address, Modi said that the ESI Scheme was based on the Gandhian principle of “contributions as per the ability and benefits.” According to the principles, an insured person or his/her family members are entitled to uniform benefits by paying a contribution proportionate to his or her wage.

Apart from medical benefits, ESIC provides sickness, disablement, dependants, maternity, and unemployment allowance benefits to the insured persons, he said.

Modi said that not many are aware of Bharat Ratna, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s contribution to the formulation of Indian labour laws. He said that the Ministry of Labour and Employment had organized a conference in Delhi last month to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary year of Ambedkar, and urged the audience to read the booklet, “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar – Labour Welfare and Empowerment: Initiatives to make his vision a reality,” which was released on that occasion.

“It is our shared vision to have an environment which is conducive for inclusive growth and development of the country. Let us all come together in making our country the best place to work and live in,” he said.

Governor of Tamil Nadu K. Rosaiah, Union Ministers Pon Radhakrishanan and Bandaru Dattatreya, State Ministers P. Mohan, S.P. Velumani, Shankar Aggarwal, Secretary, Union Ministry of Labour & Employment and Shri Deepak Kumar, Director General, ESIC also participated in the event.