Title: Regarding unsatisfactory medical facilities for the cashew workers in the hospitals and dispensaries under Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme in Kerala.
SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH (ADOOR): Mr. Speaker, Sir, in Kerala, the Employees’ State Insurance dispensaries or hospitals’ functioning is not satisfactory. Quilon district is a cashew-oriented district. More than 200 cashew factories are running there in public as well as in private sectors. Trivandrum and Pathanamthitta Districts are also partly engaged in this industry. More than three lakh cashew workers are employed in cashew industry in Kerala. Every year, the country is earning the largest amount of foreign exchange through this industry. Sir, the entire cashew workers are now under ESI scheme and they are getting ESI benefits. Ninety per cent of the cashew workers are poor women and majority of them belong to Scheduled Castes and other Backward Communities. The cashew workers are not getting proper medical care. The Government of India has introduced medical facilities for the cashew workers.
MR. SPEAKER: Please conclude.
SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH (ADOOR): Sir, I am concluding. Unfortunately, the ESI hospitals have totally failed to provide medical treatment to the cashew workers.
MR. SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned to meet again at 2.00 p.m.
1301 hours
The Lok Sabha then adjourned for Lunch till Fourteen of the Clock.
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