Centre implementing massive e-governance project for ESIC: Bandaru Dattatreya

HYDERABAD: The Centre is implementing a Rs 1,900 crore e-governance project to automate transactions vis-a-vis the Employees State Insurance Corporation ( ESIC), Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said here today.

Under the project, named 'Panchdeep', a massive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) would be installed across the country. The data concerning the employees like medicines given to them, tests conducted, medical history of each employee would be incorporated in the system, Dattatreya, who holds independent charge of the ministry, told reporters.

The project also takes care of payments, third party bills, the loans and advances, LTC of the employees, among others, he said.

The Insured Persons (IP) would get unique biometric cards under the project.

"There is no question of middlemen and workers having to make rounds of offices now. This is a revolutionary process. This is a great opportunity for workers. It would be one of the largest IT-enabled database in the country," Dattatreya said.

The project would promote transparency and accountability and eliminate corruption, he said.

Referring to the 'Shramev Jayate' initiative of the Centre, the minister said the 'Shram Suvidha' portal has been brought in for transparent and accountable labour inspection scheme and portability through Universal Account Number (UAN) for Employees' Provident Fund members.

Noting that Rs 28,000 cores of EPFO amount is lying "un-operational" for lack of appropriate data, he said the ministry is mulling on its disbursal.

The NDA government has taken several workmen-friendly decisions like enhancing the expenditure for insured persons under the ESIC from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 and granting funds for improving hospitals, Dattatreya said.

Delegating more powers to the states, the Centre has decided to form the state executive committees for ESI services, he added.