Addressing a press conference at Sahyadri, Union Labour Minister Dr Satyanarayan Jatiya, announced that the decision was taken by his Ministry on January 30, 1999. The money will be utilised to modernise the existing infrastructure at 13 ESIC hospitals in the State.

``There were several complaints about the ESIC hospitals in the country. A committee had recommended various measures to improve these hospitals. Responding to a proposal by the Maharashtra government, Rs 1.28 crore have been sanctioned. The money will be used for purchasing 5 Ultra Sonography equipment, 8 dental units, 11 pulse oximeters and 2 cardiac monitors. Patients admitted to ESIC hospitals will get a better service hereafter,'' Jatiya said.

Commenting on the problem of child labour, Jatiya said it was up to the Stategovernments to initiate stern action based on existing laws. ``There are various laws to prevent child labour, but the State governments fail to prosecute the guilty. However, the Union Government has increased the scope of occupations and processes hazardous for children. Earlier, there were only 18 such occupations but we have now listed 62 hazardous occupations,'' the minister said. He added that the citizens should complain to the authorities if they noticed child labour anywhere.

Jatia said his Ministry has revised the cess collected from bidi industrialists to help the workers. The revised cess is Re 1 per 1000 bidis rolled by the workers and will generate about Rs 42 crore annually, he said. He added that the money will be utilised for welfare of bidi workers and their families, their education, among other things. When asked about the issue of minimum wages to be paid to bidi workers, Jatia said the government will ensure that the industrialists abide by laws about the stipulatedwages.

Jatia said a comprehensive law was being worked out for unorganised labour in the country. ``A committee is working towards it and will submit its recommendations in next two years. The new law will protect over 32 crore unorganised labourers in the country,'' he said. Jatia added that the government will soon announce a scheme to safeguard contract labour despite the rising opposition from employers. He added that a Rs 28,000 crore package will soon be announced to revive the dying textiles industry in different parts of the country.