Free medical scheme launched

[sajiv]

Free medical scheme launched

NEYVELI: The Neyveli Lignite Corporation has launched a free medical services scheme, including in-patient treatment, for the benefit of about 11,000 contract workmen and their dependents, on a par with regular employees.

NLC sources claimed that it was for the first time in the country that a public sector company was offering equal medical benefits to regular employees and contract workmen.

The total number of contract workmen (11,000) and their dependents would cross 30,000. Therefore, to cater to the needs of so many people, the NLC had initially started a separate dispensary at Block 29 in the Neyveli Township.

NLC Chairman-cum-Managing Director A.R. Ansari inaugurated the dispensary on Wednesday in the presence of directors J.N. Prasanna Kumar (finance), V. Sethuraman (power, planning and projects), P. Babu Rao (personnel), and Surender Mohan (mines) and K.S. Balasubramanian, Chief Vigilance Officer.

As a token gesture, Mr. Ansari distributed Medical Identity Books to 200 contract workmen drawn from all the NLC units. Case details of treatment being given to each workman would be registered in the book.

He said that the management and the trade unions such as the Labour Progressive Front, the Pattali Thozhir Sangham and the Jeeva Contract Workers' Union had signed a Memorandum of Understanding in front of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) in New Delhi on June 16, 2008.

The salient feature of the MoU was to provide free medical facilities to contract workmen and their dependents on a par with the regular employees. For this purpose, data on contract workmen was being compiled.

Mr. Ansari said that earlier it was thought that prior to its implementation, adequate infrastructure should be created because given the large number of workforce, the existing facilities in the NLC general hospital could not cope with the demand.

However, having come from a rural background, he knew fully well the difficulties faced by villagers in accessing healthcare. Hence, he had decided to start the dispensary now for the workmen to get preliminary treatment.

Further treatment would be given at the NLC General Hospital.

He said that all the workmen would be covered under the scheme and therefore they need not be apprehensive on this score.