A study on awareness and satisfaction of Employee State Insurance (ESI)

among Insured Persons (IP)

VINOD H. KAMBLE(M.com, SET, B.Ed)Nirmala College of CommerceMalad (E)

INTRODUCTION ESI Act of 1948 is implemented by the ESIC, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. Till recently the ESI department of respective state governments administered the provision of care. Since about a decade there has been a move to establish hospitals directly run by the ESIC in each state.

The main benefits provided by the ESI are sickness benefit, disablement benefit, dependent’s benefit, maternity benefit, medical benefit

Employees earning not more than Rs.15, 000 per month are presently entitled to it. They contribute 1.75% of their salary and the employers contribute 4.75% of the employees’ salary. The state government also contributes 1/8th share of the cost of medical benefit.

OBJECTIVESTo study the quality of service given to the

insured persons

To study the awareness level of the people so that they can benefit from the scheme.

To find out the problems faced by workers in ESI hospitals/dispensaries.

To study the recent improvement in the ESI services

RESEARCH METHODLOGYSource of Data:The present study is based on primary data and secondary data which were collected using questionnaire method.

Sample size:30 insured people were taken as a sample for research. The sampling method followed was convenience sampling method.

Data Collection:The data was collected using questionnaire in various industries located from Borivali to Andheri. The questionnaire included the questions regarding awareness about ESI and its benefits. Close ended questions were included in the questionnaire to get answers of the objectives laid down in the study.

Sample Unit:The research was conducted from Borivali to Andheri area of Mumbai suburban insured persons. 

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

LIMITATIONS

Sample size of 30 is a limitation; the findings may differ with higher sample size.

Sample unit and the area can be a limitation as the ESI awareness may differ in other areas.

SUGGESTIONSThe ESI Corporation should arrange workshops and seminars for HR managers to inform about the various services of ESIC who in turn inform to their employees.

ESI Corporation should take appropriate measures to develop professionalism among doctors and other staff to provide adequate services to the insured person.

More number of Hospitals should be provided at least one in each area so that insured person need not to travel far.

More computerised system should be used to speed up the various procedures and avoid delays.

Aggressive promotions should be done through TV, Hoardings, Radio, and Newspapers to make aware and encourage people for using ESI services at local level.

CONCLUSIONSo from the data it can be seen that insured persons are satisfied with the drugs and dressings but the problem is lack of awareness and the services received by them is not satisfactory. ESI Corporation has been making lots of efforts to improve the services. But the doctors and other staff is not willing to provide appropriate services to the insured person. So there is need to motivate doctors and staff to provide adequate services to the insured persons. More and more awareness need to be made to pull the people to ESI hospital and dispensaries. There should be proper grievance committee who will look after the complaints of the insured people at local level. If the more and more awareness is created among insured persons then taken more and more people will make use of ESI services.