Trade unions oppose move to shelve ESI med college

BHUBANESWAR: Functionaries of central trade unions met labour and employment minister Prafulla Mallik here on Tuesday and urged him to oppose the Centre's decision to nix the proposed medical college of Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) in Bhubaneswar.
"Members of all seven central trade unions condemn the Centre's decision. We are planning to stage a protest against the move near Raj Bhavan in June.We will also hold a dharna in New Delhi," said national secretary of All India Trade Union Congress R K Panda.
Mallik assured the trade union leaders that he will take up the matter with the Centre. "I will raise the issue during the department's review meeting on May 30. I will also write a letter to Union labour and employment minister Bandaru Dattatreya, requesting him to reconsider the decision," Mallik told TOI.
Official sources said chief minister Naveen Patnaik is also likely to write to the Centre in this regard.
On Sunday, Dattatreya said there are not enough ESI insured persons to sustain a medical college in Bhubaneswar. He instead announced to upgrade the existing ESI hospital in the state capital.
Foundation stone of the medical college was laid during the UPA regime. The state government identified 25 acre near Jagannathpur, on the outskirts of the city, for it. A boundary wall was constructed at the proposed site with an investment of Rs 13 crore, the sources said.
President of Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Board Subash Singh described the decision as unfortunate.