(a) whether the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has conducted any study/
survey to provide/issue Smart Cards to ESI beneficiaries on the line of Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) for their medical treatment in the country;
(b) if so, the details and outcome thereof;
(c) the time by which such cards are likely to be provided/issued to all ESI beneficiaries in the country; and
(d) the estimated expenditure likely to be incurred thereon?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)
(a) to (c): The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation has conducted a study for IT-
enablement of ESI Corporation as a consequence of which Systems Integrator has been appointed
through global tender. One of the components of this IT Project comprises of issue of
magnetic Smart Cards to the beneficiaries of ESIC. The System Integrator has studied the
requirements, formulated the plans and started the work towards capturing data for preparation
of said Smart Cards. The entire IT-enablement process is expected to be operationalised by
11.08.2010 and thereafter the process of distribution of such cards to ESI beneficiaries will
be initiated.
(d): The issue of magnetic Smart Cards is part of ESI Corporation’s IT Project Panchdeep
being executed by the Systems Integrator and no separate cost is quoted towards issue of such
cards. The total cost of Project Panchdeep is Rs. 1181.82 crores to be paid in 20 quarterly
instalments over a period of 5 years after the rollout is complete.