cash benefits - a game changer for the beneficiaries.pdf
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7/27/2019 Cash Benefits - a game changer for the beneficiaries.pdf
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/cash-benefits-a-game-changer-for-the-beneficiariespdf 1/1
S O C IA L S E C U R IT Y
C A S H B E N E F I T
A G A M E CHA NGER FO R THE B ENEFIC IA RIE S
In the recent past there has been
flow of news both in electronic and
print media about cash transfer
involving variouswelfare schemesof
Govt.of India. The main objective of
the said cash transfer is to ensure
transfer of cashto bank accounts of
beneficiaries through the use of
AADHARnumber so as to achieve
three objectives, (i) Removal of
Malpractices, (ii) Reducing leakage
and importantly, (iii) Economy in
expenditure linked with two
objectives already brought out
herein. Keeping in view the huge
illiteracy and lack of bank accounts,
this is definitely a big challenge for
the variousfunctionaries of the Govt.
but if implemented wholeheartedly
by the service providers which itself calls for attitudinal change from
"Nothing can be done, to, it can be
done" While central Govt. is now
talking of cashtransfer,it isdefinitely
gratifying rather proud moment to
be involved in such a task which is
already in force in one of the biggest
Social Security S.chemeof Govt. of
India Le.Employees'State Insurance
Scheme being administered under
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Govt.of India. Togo bythe statistics,
today the Schemehasa membership
of 1.90 crores insured persons
(workers of factory/establishment
who stand covered under ESI Act)
with a total number of approximately
6 crore including family members.
ESI scheme has been providing
medical care, and cash benefits in
the contingencies of sickness,
maternity, disablement and death
due to employment injury to
workers. Till 2009, the long term
benefits which were payableto the
workers and to their family
members, namely, disablement
benefits and dependent benefit(a
form of pensionscheme)on monthly
basis were paid in cash for which
such beneficiaries have necessarily
to travel all the way to variousoffices
of ESICin persons to receive such
payments. Keepingin view the long
distances they have to travel, the
inconvenience and possible
harassment bythe service providers,
a decision was taken during 2010 bythe Corporation to go for the user
friendly measurebydirect transfer of
cash benefit to the accounts of the
beneficiaries. At the initial stage,
there was resistance from various
trade unions and individual workers
due to non receipt of hard cash in
hand, since most of such
beneficiaries were not having bank
accounts. A persistent effort was
made through officers and staff of
ESIC particularly, field officers to
convince beneficiaries the benefits
of such transfer of cash benefits to
their accounts,that they do not have
to come in personto office and, that
in absenceof any interfacewith staff
members, possibility of harassment,
E n T R fP R E n E U R M r s M f I I 2 0 1 5
corrupt practices stand removed.
Another major effort was made in
contacting State bank of India and
banks like Union Bank of India in
opening no-frills bank accounts for
beneficiaries of the scheme by
producing identity cards / Pehchan
Cards issued by ESI corporation
which has support from the ESIC
Branch Managers located in field
offices. Today almost 1,98,000/-
beneficiaries of Permanent
Disablement Benefit (PDB) and
about 80,000 families of Dependent
Benefit (DB) are getting benefits
directly transferred to their bank
accounts. This has brought out not
only smiles in their faces particularly,
the aged population of beneficiaries
but alsoonesignificant fallout of thisbankaccount transfer is found to be
increase in saving habits and
possiblecontribution to the national
economy besides financial identity
in the society. Keeping in view the
great successof this transfer of cash
benefit. It is proposed to make all
remaining cash benefits payments
to bank accounts by the end of this
current financial year.This is one of
the good practices which has
resulted in ESI Corporation
recognized for good practice award
of International Social Security
Association (lSSA) Geneva 2012
recently.•
(8.I<.SAHU)
He Is engaged in Social Security Organization of the
Government of India and views expr ••• ed are personal
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