ESIC Medical College to Open at KK Nagar in March

EFT Bureau, Chennai: The Union Minister of State for Labor Mr. Kodikunnil Suresh has disclosed that the proposed Medical College by Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) at KK Nagar in Chennai will start functioning from the coming academic year that begins in March 2013.

The second Medical College by ESIC will be at Coimbatore and it will start functioning from March 2014, the Minister added.

Elaborating further, the Union Minister said that the Centre is spending Rs 480 Crore for KK Nagar Medical College while Rs 500 Cr would be the expenditure for starting the Medical College at Coimbatore. These Colleges will give a great fillip to quality medical education in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Kodikunnil Suresh said. The admission will be for 100 students to begin with. The fees at these Medical Colleges will be strictly on Government fee structure, the Union minister added.

The center has decided to set up a modern 100 bedded ESI hospital at Sriperumbadur to meet the long standing demand by the workers in that industrial hub. The final decision will be taken at the ESI Board Meeting scheduled for 8th of next month, the Minister said. This hospital will have facilities for burn treatment.

The Labor Ministry is seriously considering increasing the ceiling on employees’ salary that makes it mandatory for the employer to contribute. Currently it is 6,500 per month. This will be raised to Rs.10, 000.The employers are fixing the salary just above 6,500 to avoid paying their contribution, he said.

The Union Minister said that recovery mechanism of EPF Contribution will be strengthened as in many cases employers are seen not contributing their share to the fund. EPF Act will be amended if needed for stricter enforcement of rules, the Minister said.

Responding to growing concern over child labor the Union Government is contemplating increasing the age limit for children who come under Child protection Act from 14 years to 18 years. Necessary amendment to the Act will be brought in the next session of the parliament, the Union Minister said.

By 2020, the Ministry of Labor will be imparting skill based training to 100 million youths, the Minister added.