(a)the outstanding ESI dues against the employers of various industries/undertakings/units
functioning throughout the country during the last three years and current year till date,
State-wise;
(b)the reasons for such unpaid huge dues; and
(c)the steps taken by the Government to recover the same?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR
AND EMPLOYMENT(SHRI SIS RAM OLA)
(a):The ESI dues outstanding against the factories/establishments/units
covered under the ESI Act for the last three years are as under :-
(Rs. in crores) As on 31.03.2002 748.26 As on 31.03.2003 908.99 As on 31.03.2004 918.47
The State-wise break-up of outstanding ESI dues against the employers is given in Annexure-`A`.
(b):The following are the primary reasons for the pending/outstanding dues:-
(i) Contribution claims being contested in Courts by employers.
(ii) Firms going into liquidation.
(iii) Recoveries barred by the Central/State Government laws and other actions.
(iv) Factories closed and whereabouts of the employers not known.
(v) Decrees obtained and execution proceedings in progress.
(c):The Revenue recovery machinery of ESI Corporation has been strengthened to maximize the recovery of the dues. The Recovery Officers of the Corporation have also been empowered w.e.f.01.09.1991 to recover the dues of the Corporation as arrears of land revenue.
ANNEXURE A
Annexure refer to in Part (a) of unstarred question No. 2511, Lok Sabha due for answer on 16.08.2004.
STATE - WISE ESI DUES OUTSTANDING FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS
(Rs. in crore)
Sl. NO. STATE Total arrears Total arrears Total arrears as on 31.03.2002 as on 31.03.2003 as on 31.03.2004
1. Andhra Pradesh 67.31 71.96 72.24
2. Assam 5.67 5.15 4.93
3. Bihar 14.38 8.04 8.26
4. Chhatisgarh # - - 3.94
5. Delhi 20.32 24.43 15.1 6. Goa 3.82 3.61 4.18
7 Gujarat 37.05 39.36 43.01
8. Punjab 22.28 13.65 14.94
9. Himachal P # - 1.15 1.53 10. J&K # - 6.7 3.45 11. Jharkhand # - 6.1 6.19 12. Karnataka 40.64 42.33 44.36 13. Kerala 22.77 27.59 31.83 14. MP 27.88 29.50 30.24 15. Maharashtra 135.43 63.62 163.92 16. Orissa 16.60 18.90 19.75 17. Pondicherry 1.46 2.10 2.07 18. Haryana 15.33 15.49 17.30 19. Rajasthan 10.49 13.45 15.29 20. Tamil Nadu 85.21 107.08 135.45 21. U.P. 66.58 114.26 79.56 22. Uttaranchal# - - 5.74 23. West Bengal 155.04 194.52 195.19
TOTAL 748.26 908.99 918.47
# Indicates newly formed regions recently.