Workers should get ESI facility: CITU

The CITU condemned the problems encountered by the labourers owing to the non-availability of ESI facility.

Speaking at a protest rally organised from Brahmagiri to the ESI Udupi branch office on Thursday, the CITU district secretary K Shankar said that the ESI facility is discontinued for patients in private hospitals.

“The hospitals do not agree to treat patients without the cash payments,” he said. He urged the government to take immediate measures and hold talks with the private hospitals and ensure that the labour class will avail the health care benefits through ESI facilities.

Extended time

He demanded that the dispensaries should be open in 6.30 pm in Udupi and permanent health officer should be kept in the dispensary to take care of the patients. He also demanded that a regional office of ESI should be opened in Kundapur.

Shankar said the ESI facilities should be extended to the remote areas of Kundapur taluk, which includes Koni, Kandlur, Basrur, Amparu. He added that there are many workers in Karkala taluk and the ESI facility should be extended to Hebri, Someshwara and Shivapura villages.

He said the government should immediately attend the leave applications of the labourers and should be granted leave.