Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatraya asks Arvind Kejriwal to clear dues of over Rs 1,100 crore

NEW DELHI: Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatraya has asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to clear dues worth Rs 1,127.87 crore relating to ESIC healthcare scheme -- a move that may trigger another confrontation between the Centre and the AAP-led government.

The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) provides medical care facility to its beneficiaries. Since health is a state subject, this facility is provided by respective state governments, the Labour Ministry said today.

"However in Delhi, administration for medical care for ESI beneficiaries was taken over by ESIC from the Delhi administration as on April 1, 1962 and as per the MoU at that time it was agreed upon that Delhi government will continue to bear 1/8th share of expenditure on medical care," it added.

The Delhi government is complying with the provisions, but "not of a regular basis" owing to this arrears payable the government has accumulated to the tune of Rs 1,127.87 crore, the Ministry said quoting from a letter written by Dattatreya to Kejriwal.

"This has been taken up with your government previously also. However, the issue remains unresolved till date," it said.

Dattatreya asked Kejriwal to expedite payment of the dues for the continuation of the ESI scheme in Delhi.

ESI scheme is designed to protect formal sector workers against the events of sickness, maternity, disablement and death due to employment injury and to provide medical care to the insured employees and their families.