Date:09/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/09/stories/2003010903311300.htm

National

`ESI benefits not denied'

O. Abdul Hameed, Additional Commissioner, ESI Corporation, New Delhi, writes:

This refers to the news item "Workers entitled to ESI benefits from date of employment" (Jan. 7). I wish to point out that the law pronounced by the Supreme Court has been the stand taken by the ESIC throughout. In the case referred to in your report, the Corporation paid funeral expenses within a few days of the death and sanctioned death benefit (pension) to the dependants, namely father, mother and brother of the deceased worker and communicated the same indicating the amount due, as early as 16.12.1987. In fact, this position was confirmed in an affidavit filed before Supreme Court, wherein the ESIC also stated that late receipt of relevant document for registering the workers with the corporation could not be treated as ground for denying benefit under the ESI Act and the moment a person is taken in employment of a covered establishment, he is entitled to be treated as an insured person with all benefits under the scheme. This clarification is to avoid any misgivings since the ESIC did not deny benefits to the worker.