The first Employees’ State Insurance Corporation hospital in Kashmir has been inaugurated at Ompora, Budgam, Srinagar. This 30-bed facility is expected to benefit over 50,000 workers and their family members directly. The hospital, constructed at a cost of Rs 165 crores, includes provisions for expansion up to 100 beds, marking a significant milestone in worker welfare services in the region.
Currently, the ESI Scheme is operational across all districts of J&K UT, catering to approximately 1,83,119 insured persons and around 7 lakh beneficiaries. The scheme is administered through the ESIC Regional Office at Jammu and the Jammu-Kashmir Employees’ State Insurance Society (JKESIS).
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, inaugurated the hospital. He highlighted that the new Labour Codes offer various protections for workers, such as annual health check-ups, mandatory appointment letters, and minimum wages. The provision for annual health checks at ESIC hospitals aims to enable early disease detection, ensure preventive healthcare for workers, and secure their future.
The minister emphasized the evolution of ESIC as a strong pillar of worker welfare since its establishment in 1952. Presently, the scheme extends healthcare and social security benefits to 3.84 crore insured persons and nearly 15 crore beneficiaries nationwide. He also mentioned the collaboration of ESIC with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which has broadened access to cashless treatment for beneficiaries at empanelled hospitals.
Highlighting the impact of the four Labour Codes implemented last year, the Union Minister described these reforms as modernizing India’s labor ecosystem, making it more worker-centric, transparent, and future-ready. He noted that India’s commitment to worker welfare has gained global recognition, with the country receiving the ‘Excellence in Social Security’ Award from the International Social Security Association in 2025. Additionally, data from the International Labour Organisation revealed that India’s social security coverage increased from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025.
