sexypablo’s blog

Being an employee of an organization for nearly 2 years, I have not enjoyed the benefits of the employee state insurance card, commonly known as ESI card.  It is the card with the help of which one employee and its family members will get the benefits.  A photograph of the employee with his family members is attached with the card.  With the help of this card, the employee can take the doctor's consultation free of cost.  It is a card which helps us for hospitalization of the employee's family.  The government system has redtapism.  The processing of the card is so slow that I had to write at the ministry level, i.e. labor ministry to get the card.  I had to write under the Right to Information Act, 2005, which states the person has the right to information about the decisions taken on a particular case.

I had to run pillar to post to get the card ready for use.  This card can be used for leave in the office and it is a great opportunity for the employee.  The right to enjoy the benefits of the card is important and often the employee neglect their rights.  In a back office, an employee only works and he does not pay attention to the benefits he is getting.  But a conscious employee is he who also asserts his rights at the proper place and the proper time. 

I visited the office of Employee State Insurance after getting the address from our manager.  I learnt from him that it is the redtapism of the government for which my card is being delayed.  So I went straight to the office at Dhakuria in Kolkata.  The office is an old building under repair.  In front of such a health insurance office, there is a garbage dump.  I was surprised to find the stench and dirt in front of a government office.  The environment of the office is so clumsy.  The officer gave me the card and I filled up the card the next day and went to submit to my nearest doctor's chamber.  The doctor's assistant refused as there was again some fault.  Then I had to approach the manager and stamped it as the date was wrong. 

Finally  on production of the card in the right format, I got the final card with the family photo pasted.  This card can be used for free medical checkup for me and my family.  I also had the opportunity for hospitalization at some ESI hospitals nearby!  This medical facility is available upto an income level.  Then as you move up to a higher income level, this opportunity will not be there. 

Then there are schemes like Mediclaims where you will deposit a yearly subscription for sudden hospitalization.  The subscription increases as per the need of the customer.

Redtapism can be seen everywhere in government jobs.  In private company, the productivity is important.  In government office, the environment is very relaxed, people gossip as there is no such targets to be met per day.  Still there are some good government offices where work is done and for this reason I got my  final card.  I am quite happy as I will get the benefit in the future.