With effect from 01 June 2021, the provisions of Contributions, Benefits, and Adjudication of Dispute and Claims under chapter IV, V, and VI of the ESI Act, respectively are enforced by the Central Government in Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Kalimpong, Purulia, North & South Dinajpur Districts of West Bengal to extend the benefits in this COVID 19 pandemic to face the requirements.
The enabled provisions of ESI Act are:
Chapter IV - provisions of Contributions except sections 44, 45
Chapter V - provisions of Benefits
Chapter VI - provisions of Adjudications of Dispute and Claims except sections 76(1), 77,78,79 and 81.
The medical benefits (as laid down in Regulation 95-A of the Employees’ State Insurance (General) Regulations and the West Bengal Employees' State Insurance (Medical Benefit) Rules, 1955)shall be extended to the families of insured persons in the entire area of Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Kalimpong, Purulia, North & South Dinajpur Districts of West Bengal.The ESI Act is applicable to the establishments that employ 10 or more persons.
The ESI Scheme is implemented in phases in different parts of the country through Gazette notification after making the infrastructure available towards the dispensation of medical as well as other benefits provided under the provisions of the Act to the prospective beneficiaries.
Accordingly, the ESI scheme notifications provides for:
- Fully notified areas
- Partially notified areas
- Non-notified areas
The Central Government and respective State Governments as the case may be, has extended the coverage of the Act to the following:
- Shops, Hotels, Restaurants, Cinema Halls including the preview theatres
- Private Medical Institutions
- Educational Institutions
- Road-Motor Transport Undertakings
- Newspaper establishments
- Insurance businesses
- Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC)
- Port Trust
- Airport Authorities
- Warehousing establishments employing 20 or more Persons (where the Central Government is the appropriate Government)
- Casual and Contract Employees of Municipal Corporation, Municipal Bodies and other establishments that are notified from time to time.