Shillong, April 08: The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), North East Zone, today announced the implementation of the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme across all districts of Meghalaya with effect from April 1, 2026, marking a significant step towards social security coverage in the state. The announcement was made during a press conference held in Shillong, where officials outlined the expansion and its expected impact on workers and their families.
Addressing the media, Shri Pranay Sinha, Insurance Commissioner, North East Zone, stated that ESIC has developed a strong nationwide network comprising 165 hospitals, more than 1,500 dispensaries and over 800 branch offices to ensure that workers receive accessible and quality healthcare and benefits. He emphasized that the scheme reflects a coordinated partnership between the Central and State Governments to protect the interests of workers by providing both medical and financial security.
“Through this scheme, we aim to reach every eligible worker and provide the best possible medical care along with essential cash benefits, ensuring their social and economic protection,” he said.
Elaborating on the benefits, Shri Sinha noted that the scheme provides comprehensive cash support including sickness benefit, maternity benefit, disablement benefits and dependants’ benefit in the event of a worker’s death due to employment injury. He further highlighted that Meghalaya has a long association with the ESI Scheme, which was first introduced in East Khasi Hills in 1980 and later extended to Ri Bhoi district and has now been expanded to cover the entire state.
At present, the state has 28,263 Insured Persons, covering 1,982 employers and approximately 1.1 lakh beneficiaries. Healthcare services are currently being provided through two ESIS dispensaries located at Shillong and Byrnihat, along with a secondary care unit at Bethany Hospital and a super speciality treatment unit at PA Sangma International Medical College and Hospital in Ri Bhoi. In order to further strengthen service delivery, four new Dispensary-cum-Branch Offices(DCBO) have been approved in Jowai, Tura, Nongstoin, and Khliehriat to ensure wider outreach across all districts.
Highlighting the ease of access, Shri Sinha stated that registration under the scheme is fully digital and managed through the ESIC and Shram Suvidha portals. He explained that establishments employing ten or more workers are mandatorily required to register under the Act, and employees earning up to ₹21,000 per month (₹25,000 for persons with disabilities) are eligible for coverage, with contributions fixed at 0.75 % from employees and 3.25 % from employers.
Quoting the vision behind the rapid expansion, Shri Sinha said,“Under the leadership and clear vision of the Union Minister of Labour & Employment, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, ESIC is committed to expanding its coverage to every district in the country so that no worker is deprived of medical and cash benefits.”
He further added that in line with this vision, ESIC has achieved rapid progress in Meghalaya, expanding coverage from just two districts to all twelve districts within a span of six to eight months. He also informed that steps are being taken to strengthen infrastructure, including the proposed construction of a 100-bedded ESIC hospital in Shillong, for which land has already been provided by the State Government and construction is expected to begin shortly.
Shri Sinha also highlighted that ESIC offers significant educational opportunities through reserved MBBS and BDS seats for wards of insured persons under the NEET quota, with comparatively lower fees, thereby providing an added advantage to workers’ families.
Emphasizing awareness and outreach, he noted that ESIC will undertake extensive campaigns including surveys, employer engagement, health check-up camps, and large-scale publicity initiatives to ensure maximum enrolment and awareness among workers and employers. He also mentioned that efforts are underway to upgrade the existing camp office in Shillong into a Sub-Regional Office, which will enhance administrative efficiency and service delivery within the state.
