Nellore: In order to provide help and succour to the families of the Insured Persons (IPs) who died due to COVID-19, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has launched ESIC COVID-19 Relief Scheme.
Under this scheme 90% of average wages of deceased Insured Person shall be paid to the eligible dependents of the Insured Person who died due to COVID-19.
Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Rameswar Teli said that the scheme is effective for two years with effect from March 24, 2020 while answering a question from Nellore MP Adala Prabhakar Reddy in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
As per the eligibility conditions for relief under the scheme, the IP who died due to COVID-19 disease must have been registered on the ESIC online portal at least three months prior to the date of diagnosis of COVID-19 disease resulting in his/ her death.
The deceased IP must have been in employment on the date of diagnosis of COVID-19 disease and contributions for at least 70 days should have been paid or payable in respect of him/ her during a period of maximum one year immediately preceding the diagnosis of COVID-19 disease resulting in death.
The spouse of the deceased insured person shall also be eligible for Medical care on depositing Rs 120/- every year.
Further, the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 envisages benefits such as maintaining of Employees’ Provident Fund accumulations, Employees’ Pension and Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI).
The minister said “In order to provide relief to the dependents of workers who died during the period, the scheme of EDLI was amended providing for minimum assurance benefit of ?2.5 lakh to eligible family members of deceased employees.
In addition, the maximum insurance amount under EDLI Scheme, 1976 has been enhanced from Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh.”
Rameswar Teli also said that Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, 1952 was amended in March, 2020 by inserting the provision for allowing non-refundable advance to EPF members during Pandemic /Epidemic.
This provision allowed EPF members to avail advance from their EPF account to the extent of 75 percent of their balance or three-month wages whichever is less.
The EPF members, who have already availed the first COVID-19 advance can now opt for a second advance. As of July 15, 2021, the number of claims settled under the second COVID-19 advance facility is 4,62,816, the minister informed.
