Chandigarh, Sept 23 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Centre to respond to a petition that raised concerns over inadequate medical infrastructure for industrial workers in Mohali.
The plea, moved by the Mohali Industry Association, pointed to a glaring mismatch between the number of insured workers and the healthcare facilities available to them. According to the association, around 3.34 lakh workers in Mohali’s industrial units are covered under the Employees State Insurance (ESI) scheme, yet the district has only a 30-bed hospital at Phase 7.
“As per the guidelines of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), a district with such a large insured population is entitled to a 400-bed hospital,” the petition stated, urging the court’s intervention to enforce compliance.
The association has sought not only expansion of the Phase-7 hospital but also the establishment of new dispensaries in Kurali, Gharuan Majri and Phase 11. “Workers are contributing every month to the ESI fund, and employers are also making their share of contributions. Yet, in return, they are left with bare minimum services,” the petition mentioned.
Under the Employees State Insurance Act of 1948, workers insured under the scheme are entitled to medical benefits, including hospital care and dispensary services, financed jointly by employees and employers. The Mohali Industry Association argued that the present infrastructure defeats the very purpose of the Act.
“The absence of sufficient facilities puts an undue burden on industrial workers, who are left without access to timely healthcare,” the plea added.
The court, after hearing the submissions, issued notice to the Union government, seeking its stand on the matter.
