Countering the Telangana state government’s accusations that the Centre is not providing institutions as promised in the bifurcation legislation, the Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said that his ministry is ready to set up three 100-bedded hospitals in the state. If the State government allocates suitable sites, he said these hospitals will come up in Ramagundam, Warangal and Ghoshmahal (Hyderabad).

After conducting a review with the Telangana State Labour Minister Nayini Narasimha Reddy and other officials with the Central Labour Ministry officials, he said that the ESIC dispensaries at Tandur, Doulatabad, Khammam, Suryapet, Maheswaram, Siddipet and Kalvakurthy would be upgraded to 6-bedded hospitals. Rs 10 crores will be provided for each hospital for construction and infrastructure facilities.

The Union Minister requested Nayini Narasimha Reddy to provide land for the construction of hospitals at the earliest. All the Beedi workers’ hospitals located in the State would be merged with the ESIC Hospitals. First upgraded hospital will be constructed in Nirmal, he added.

Dattatreya said that the housing subsidy for the beedi workers will be increased from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 1,50,000. The ministry is planning to construct 10 thousand houses for beedi workers in the State. The Centre is also planning to extend the services of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and ESI facilities to the beedi workers.

Under Social Security Scheme, he said that 18 lakh contract labourers will be covered under the services of ESIC. In this regard, a decision has to be taken after consulting the ESIC board officials. Dattatreya said that a decision has to be taken on the request of Government of Telangana to set up 2 Sub Regional ESIC Centres at Ramagundam and Kothagudem and one Employees Provident Fund Regional office at Khammam. The Union Minister said that the Centre is planning to provide Social Security for construction workers like ESI and EPF.