Kashmir gets first ESIC Hospital at Budgam
Srinagar, Apr 24: The first Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospital in Kashmir was inaugurated at Ompora in Budgam district on Friday, a 30-bed facility expected to benefit over 50,000 workers and their families, according to an official statement.
Built at a cost of Rs 165 crore, the hospital has provision for expansion up to 100 beds and marks a significant expansion of worker welfare and healthcare infrastructure in the region, the Ministry of Labour and Employment said.
Inaugurating the facility, Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya said, “A country that values the dignity of its workers is unstoppable on the path of progress,” stressing that worker welfare must remain central to governance.
He said the new labour codes guarantee protections such as annual health check-ups, mandatory appointment letters and minimum wages. “Annual health checks through ESIC hospitals will enable early detection of diseases, ensure preventive healthcare for workers and secure their future,” he said.
Mandaviya noted that the ESIC has evolved into a key pillar of worker welfare since its inception in 1952, now providing healthcare and social security benefits to 3.84 crore insured persons and nearly 15 crore beneficiaries across India.
He added that insured persons are entitled to free treatment under the ESI scheme without financial limits, provided contributions are regularly deposited.
The minister also said the facility is proposed to be developed into a nursing college to train youth from Jammu and Kashmir, creating employment opportunities in the healthcare sector.
The Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme is currently implemented across all districts of the Union Territory, covering about 1.83 lakh insured persons and nearly 7 lakh beneficiaries. It is administered through the ESIC Regional Office in Jammu and the Jammu and Kashmir Employees’ State Insurance Society.
Mandaviya said the convergence of ESIC with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has expanded access to cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals.
Highlighting labour reforms, he said the four labour codes have modernised India’s labour ecosystem, making it more worker-centric, transparent and future-ready.
“India’s commitment to worker welfare has received global recognition. In 2025, the International Social Security Association honoured the country with the ‘Excellence in Social Security’ Award,” he said, citing data from the International Labour Organisation that showed social security coverage rising from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025.
Referring to youth engagement, the minister said the government is strengthening sports infrastructure through initiatives such as Fit India Movement and Khelo India, and is pursuing efforts to host major international events, including the 2036 Olympic Games.
Officials said the hospital is expected to improve healthcare access for workers in the region while also contributing to skill development through proposed training facilities.
