A total of 14.62 lakh new members were enrolled in the ESIC-run social security scheme in August 2022, according to official data released on Tuesday, reported PTI.
This data is released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) as a part of their report - Payroll Reporting in India: An Employment Perspective-August 2022. Report showed that the gross new enrolments with Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) rose to 1.49 crore in 2021-22, from 1.15 crore in 2020-21. It was 1.51 crore in 2019-20 and 1.49 crore in 2018-19.
From September 2017 to March 2018, around 83.35 lakh new subscribers joined the ESIC scheme.
Gross new enrolments with ESIC from September 2017 to August 2022 were 7.22 crore, said the report. This is based on the payroll data of new subscribers of various social security schemes run by ESIC, like the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
Net new enrolments with retirement fund body EPFO stood at 16.91 lakh in August 2022. It showed that from September 2017 to August 2022, around 5.81 crore (gross) new subscribers joined the Employees' Provident Fund scheme, according to PTI.
The report also said that since the number of subscribers is from various sources, there are elements of overlap, and the estimates are not additive.
According to NSO, the report gives different perspectives on the levels of employment in the formal sector and does not measure employment at a holistic level.
Previously, Union Minister for Labour & Employment, Bhupender Yadav has said that the ministry has resolved to expand ESIC’s reach in over 750 districts of the country.
“Under the ESIC scheme, there are 3 crore 90 lakh families and 12 crore beneficiaries. Our presence is visible in 598 districts across the country and in the 75th year of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the ministry has resolved to expand ESIC’s reach in over 750 districts of the country”, the minister said.