In exercise of the powers conferred upon it under sub section 1 of section 97 of the Employees State Insurance Act

## Report on Amendment to the ESIC COVID-19 Relief Scheme **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification issued by the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) regarding an amendment to the ESIC COVID-19 Relief Scheme. The amendment, detailed in Notification No. N1213012019PD dated February 1, 2022, focuses on relaxing the eligibility criteria for the scheme. Specifically, it modifies the required contribution period for deceased insured persons to qualify for relief. This report provides an overview of the amendment, its rationale, key changes, target audience, implementation aspects, and expected outcomes, based solely on the information provided in the notification text. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide information and analysis regarding the amendment to the ESIC COVID-19 Relief Scheme, as communicated in the official notification published by the ESIC. The analysis is based solely on the text of the provided notification and aims to provide stakeholders with a clear understanding of the changes introduced. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Amendment To:** ESIC COVID-19 Relief Scheme, originally notified vide Sl. No. 331 dated 13.08.2021. * **Core Objective(s):** Based on the text, the objective of the *original* ESIC COVID-19 Relief Scheme (inferred) was to provide welfare measures to employees covered under Section 29 of the ESI Act who were affected by COVID-19. The *amendment's* objective (inferred) is to relax eligibility criteria of the existing scheme. **4. Background and Rationale:** This is an amendment to an existing policy. The notification indicates that the Employees State Insurance Corporation has decided to relax the eligibility condition of the scheme. The amendment suggests that the initial eligibility criteria, specifically the contribution period requirement, may have been overly restrictive, possibly preventing some eligible individuals from accessing the relief scheme. This relaxation potentially aims to broaden the scheme's reach and provide assistance to a larger pool of affected employees. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This section focuses on the changes introduced by the amendment: * **Original Policy Part Being Changed:** The specific part of the original policy changed relates to the eligibility conditions, specifically the required contribution period. * **New Rule/Provision:** The deceased Insured Person must have been in employment on the date of diagnosis of COVID 19 disease and contributions for at least 35 days should have been paid or payable in respect of him her during a period of maximum one year immediately preceding the diagnosis of COVID19 disease resulting in death. * **Difference/Effect of Change:** The original criteria (which is not specified in the provided text, so we are inferring the impact of the *change*) likely required more than 35 days of contributions. The new provision reduces the minimum contribution requirement to at least 35 days of contributions made or payable during a period of maximum one year before the diagnosis of COVID-19. This will allow those who worked for a shorter period and met the 35 day threshold to become eligible for benefits they otherwise may not have received. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment are: * Employees covered under Section 29 of the ESI Act and their dependents, particularly those whose death resulted from COVID-19 and who may not have met the original contribution requirements. * The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) itself, as the implementing body. * Employers contributing to the ESIC. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) is the responsible body for implementing this amendment. Shri S Biswas, Insurance Commissioner is mentioned as a point of contact for objections and suggestions. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The notification allows for a 30-day period from the date of publication (February 9, 2022) for objections or suggestions regarding the amendment. * **Implementation Aspects Related Specifically to the Changes:** The ESIC will need to update its internal procedures and guidelines to reflect the relaxed eligibility criteria and ensure that claims are processed according to the revised rules. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The intended outcome of this amendment is likely to increase the number of eligible beneficiaries under the ESIC COVID-19 Relief Scheme. By reducing the contribution period requirement, the amendment aims to provide financial assistance to a broader range of families affected by COVID-19 related deaths. This change could also reduce the burden of proof or paperwork for claiming benefits. **9. Conclusion:** The amendment to the ESIC COVID-19 Relief Scheme, as detailed in Notification No. N1213012019PD, represents a relaxation of eligibility criteria for the scheme, specifically related to the required contribution period. By reducing this requirement to at least 35 days, the ESIC aims to extend the benefits of the scheme to a larger segment of the eligible population affected by COVID-19 related deaths. The amendment signifies a responsive adjustment to the initial policy, potentially leading to a more inclusive and impactful welfare measure.

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