Maharashtra health minister urges Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to revise income eligibility limit for ESIS beneficiaries
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya
met Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Ambedkar in New Delhi. The meeting was held to review the status of
Employees' State Insurance Scheme
(ESIS) hospitals in the state. During the meeting, Ambedkar requested the Union government to raise the income eligibility limit for ESIS beneficiaries from ₹21,000 to ₹30,000 per month, an HT report stated. 'This would allow more workers to access the scheme and help expand coverage across the state,' he said.
Ambedkar also asked for additional financial support from the Centre to improve healthcare infrastructure and services for workers and their families. The review meeting covered operational challenges and pending construction works at
ESIC hospitals
in Andheri, Kolhapur, and Ulhasnagar.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Select a Course Category
Healthcare
others
Product Management
MBA
Digital Marketing
CXO
Technology
Management
PGDM
Artificial Intelligence
Operations Management
Others
Project Management
Finance
Data Analytics
MCA
Data Science
Public Policy
Design Thinking
Leadership
Degree
Cybersecurity
healthcare
Data Science
Skills you'll gain:
Financial Analysis in Healthcare
Financial Management & Investing
Strategic Management in Healthcare
Process Design & Analysis
Duration:
12 Weeks
Indian School of Business
Certificate Program in Healthcare Management
Starts on
Jun 13, 2024
Get Details
Pending projects to be fast-tracked
Dr Mandaviya assured that the incomplete works at these
ESIC
hospitals would be completed soon. He said the director-general of ESIC would be directed to prioritise and expedite these projects. He also informed that he would personally visit the ESIS hospital in Andheri with the state health minister.
The Union Minister suggested a comprehensive review of all ESIC hospitals in Maharashtra. He added that the Centre was also considering upgrading the ESIC hospital in Nashik in light of the upcoming Kumbh Mela.
'This meeting will boost efforts to strengthen ESIC healthcare facilities across Maharashtra and will help ensure better medical services for insured workers,' said Ambedkar.
Live Events
Current status of ESIS in Maharashtra
According to official data, Maharashtra currently has 15 ESIS hospitals, 134 service dispensaries, and 450 empanelled private hospitals. These facilities collectively serve about 4.87 million insured workers and their families—covering nearly two crore people under the scheme.
The meeting was also attended by Health Secretary Virendra Singh, ESIS Commissioner Ramesh Chavan, and other senior government officials.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
5 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Union Petroleum Minister promises ₹48 crore for cancer treatment equipment in three government general hospitals in Andhra Pradesh
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has, in principle, assured ₹48 crore financial assistance from his Ministry towards providing medical equipment for treatment of cancer in the government general hospitals in Kakinada, Guntur and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh. At a meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday, Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications P. Chandra Sekhar and Rajya Sabha member S. Sathish Babu, who hails from Kakinada, urged the Union Minister to provide the equipment under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), a release issued by Mr. Sathish Babu said. 'Mr. Hardeep Singh has assured to offer ₹48 crore through the CSR fund from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) towards providing medical equipment for cancer screening and radiation treatment,' the release said. 'The equipment, each worth ₹16 crore, will be installed in the government general hospitals for better cancer treatment in the respective regions,' Mr. Sathish Babu added.
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Mother-To-Child HIV Transmission Declined By 84% From 2010-2024: Minister
New Delhi: The number of vertical (mother-to-child) transmission of HIV has declined by around 84 per cent said Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, in the Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Ms Patel shared several steps taken by the government to enhance HIV/AIDS awareness. "Vertical transmission rate has also declined by around 74.5 per cent between 2010 and 2024 compared to around 56.5 per cent globally in the same reference period," Ms Patel said. Ms Patel noted that National Aids Control Organisation (NACO), a division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, undertakes the responsibility to strengthen the awareness campaign against HIV/AIDs, through comprehensive multimedia campaigns, such as with information kiosks, and folk performances, among others. Digital platforms and social media are also actively leveraged to ensure broader engagement and awareness generation, especially among younger and tech-savvy audiences. Further, NACO rolled out 1,619 projects nationwide to support high-risk HIV populations. "High-risk groups, including female sex workers (FSW), men having sex with Men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), hijra/transgender (TG) individuals, truck drivers, and migrants are specifically addressed through 1,619 targeted intervention projects across the country," Ms Patel said. Self-help groups, anganwadi workers, ASHAs, and members of Panchayati Raj institutions provide training and sensitisation programmes at the grassroots level, fostering community-level awareness and behavioural change.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
4 hours ago
- First Post
Kerala wants to ‘euthanise' sick stray dogs. How grave is India's canine problem?
Kerala has planned to 'euthanise' seriously ill stray dogs as cases of attacks by the animals rise. The stray dog menace is plaguing India, with the Centre recently telling the Lok Sabha that over 37 lakh cases of dog bites were reported last year and suspected casualties from rabies stood at 54. Despite laws, why is the country unable to tackle the issue? read more Kerala has decided to 'euthanise' diseased stray dogs amid rising cases of attacks on humans by the animals. The move has sparked a never-ending debate about the 'right ways' to address the dog menace in the country. The problem of dog bites and rabies-related deaths has also reached Parliament. While there are laws to curb the stray dog population, India is struggling to tackle the menace. Let's take a closer look. Kerala to 'euthanise' sick strays The Kerala government is planning to launch mobile sterilisation units in 152 blocks and allow the 'euthanasia' of seriously ill animals, Local Self-Government Minister M B Rajesh said last week. The Kerala government has invoked Section 8 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Animal Husbandry Practices and Procedures) Rules, 2023, to justify its move. The provision empowers the Centre or state government to euthanise any sick animal that is mortally wounded or in a physical condition that 'it shall be cruel to keep it alive.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Only a registered veterinary practitioner can determine the dog's condition and consent has to be taken from the owner or custodian of the animal in writing. This comes as stray dogs, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, bit 1.65 lakh people in the first five months of 2025. As many as 17 casualties have been reported due to dog attacks in Kerala. Kerala has 2.89 lakh stray dogs and 8.36 lakh domesticated canines, Indian Express reported, citing the 2019 livestock census. India's stray dog population India has a stray dog population of about 6.2 crore, according to the State of Pet Homelessness Index of India, 2023. At around 20 lakh, Uttar Pradesh had the largest population of stray dogs. India witnessed 1.6 crore cases of dog bites between 2019 and 2022. As many as 30 lakh cases were reported in 2023 and 21.95 lakh in 2024. The South Asian country reports an alarmingly high number of deaths due to stray dog bites. More than 55,000 people succumb to dog attacks globally every year. India accounts for 36 per cent of global rabies deaths and 65 per cent of the fatalities in South Asia, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) data. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal this year found that three in every four animal bites were dog bites in India, with the country estimated to record over 5,700 human deaths each year due to rabies. Recently, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying SP Singh Baghel informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that India saw a total of 37,17,336 dog bite cases in 2024, while 54 people were suspected to have died from rabies. On Tuesday (July 22), Congress MP Karti Chidambaram raised concerns about the stray dog menace, writing in a post on X: 'We can't ignore this any more!' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why India is struggling to tackle stray dog menace Dogs are man's best friends. However, the unchecked growth in stray dog population has become a problem in India. Media reports are full of headlines of dogs attacking humans, especially children. Such incidents spread panic among parents who worry for their children's safety. Some are forced to stop using public spaces amid fears of dog bites. In 2001, India introduced Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules to lay down guidelines to control the street dog population through humane measures such as sterilisation and vaccination. It mandated corporations to sterilise, not kill, street dogs. The rules were upgraded in 2023, including banning relocation of street dogs. A stray caught for sterilisation from a particular place has to be released at the same location after the sterilisation surgery. However, the programme has not been implemented effectively. Due to a crunch of funds or infrastructure, some cities have not rolled out the ABC rules. In other cases, there is a lack of municipal bodies and animal welfare organisations. Stray dogs sit on a deserted street, in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023. File Photo/Reuters The stray dog question also ignites the war between animal lovers and gated societies and resident welfare associations (RWAs). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Animal lovers feed the stray dogs, while RWAs want them to be removed from the area. 'In every city, there is a very small minority that says, remove the dogs. There's an equally small pro-animal lobby. And then we have the silent majority of 85 per cent, who just keep quiet,' Chinny Krishna, founder of Blue Cross of India, told The Hindu in 2023. Some cases of botched surgeries, including those without anaesthesia, have made feeders wary. There is also little post-operative care for the strays despite guidelines. However, ferocious stray dogs are making it harder for people to go about their day without being concerned about attacks. 'I used to support feeding strays. But after my niece got chased on her cycle, I just want them gone,' Rita, a college student from Kerala's Thrissur, was quoted as saying by Mathrubhumi. Animal lovers argue that dogs get aggressive due to abuse, hunger, or territorial fear. 'I have had dogs all my life, and especially stray dogs have been my friends ever since I was a kid. I'm very sure that stray dogs never bite out of the blue. They bite only out of fear, hunger, pain, or if there's a history of abuse they've had to go through. These animals survive in very harsh conditions and constantly have to manage on the streets without proper shelter, food, water, or kindness from people. Many people mistreat these animals, and that's what makes them defensive. They'll do anything to protect themselves and their territory, so whenever they feel threatened, they attack or growl,' Ann George, a content writer from Ernakulam, told the Malayalam newspaper. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ: A Paw-fect Farewell to Ratan Tata: How the stray dogs of Mumbai have lost their best friend What's the solution? The human-animal conflict can be managed. Experts say the effective implementation of ABC rules can check the surge in stray dog population. Public awareness about rabies, proper surgeries and care of dogs and putting an end to animal abuse could help in dealing with the problem. India can also look at the Netherlands, which managed the stray dog issue without killing the animals. Its 'Collect, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return policy, which began in the 1990s, has prevented the growth of feral dog populations. Today, the European country is free of stray dogs. India aims to eliminate rabies by 2030. But only sustained efforts, effective implementation of ABC rules and proper waste management to reduce food sources for dogs can help meet the goal. With inputs from agencies
