Exactly a month after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded his resignation in Rohith Vemula’s death case, Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya has asked to clear dues worth Rs 1,127.87 crore.
This money is related to Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) health scheme, which provides medical care facility to its beneficiaries.
The labour ministry said that since health was a state subject, this facility was to be provided by respective state governments.
Quoting labour ministry, PTI News reported, “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.”
The Delhi government, according to ministry, is complying with the provisions, but “not of a regular basis.”
This occasional non-payment by Delhi government has reportedly accumulated to the tune of Rs 1,127.87 crore.
“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.