Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 24 

India on Friday inaugurated its first Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospital in Kashmir, aiming to expand healthcare access and social security coverage for workers in the region.

Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya opened the 30-bed facility at Ompora in Budgam district, describing it as a key step toward strengthening welfare infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.

Built at a cost of Rs 165 crore, the hospital has provision for expansion to 100 beds and is expected to serve more than 50,000 workers and their families.

The facility will provide healthcare services under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme, which currently covers over 1.83 lakh insured persons and around 7 lakh beneficiaries across the region.

Mandaviya said the initiative reflected the government’s commitment to improving healthcare, dignity and social security for workers under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said recent labour reforms had improved transparency and working conditions, including provisions for minimum wages, appointment letters and annual health check-ups.

The minister said that the planned introduction of a national floor wage would help reduce disparities in minimum wages across states and union territories.

He said the ESI scheme provides a range of benefits including medical care, maternity support and financial assistance during unemployment, noting that high treatment costs had previously forced many workers into financial hardship.

“Treatment ranging from thousands to up to 10 million rupees is being made available under the scheme,” Mandaviya said.

He cited data from the International Labour Organisation indicating that social security coverage in India had expanded to more than 64 percent of workers.

The minister also highlighted the integration of ESIC services with the Ayushman Bharat programme, enabling wider access to cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals.

The new hospital is expected to create local employment opportunities, including through planned nursing and training facilities, officials said.

On the sidelines of the event, the minister honoured workers involved in the hospital’s construction and distributed social security benefits to insured persons.