Around 35 thousand employees of the KMC have taken health insurance policies (Rs 50,000 per worker) from the National Insurance Company, which had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the civic body. But In 2006-2007, there were 54 cases in which the employees did not get the cashless benefit after being admitted to various hospitals and nursing homes. Of the 54 cases, 46 were later settled by the insurance company.
In 2007-08, 20 cases again came to light in which the employees did not receive the benefits of the health insurance. These cases are yet to be settled. “This is a controversial issue. We cannot comment on it. But there are some terms and conditions that have been violated by the employees, resulting in the non-payment of the health insurance company,” said a senior civic official. The KMC employees can avail the cashless benefit in 55 nursing homes and hospitals in the city, which are listed by the company. “We demand the withdrawal of the clause that says that the policy holders have to be admitted in the listed hospitals and nursing homes only. The policy should increase the sum assured upto Rs 2 lakh as the employees and poor workers suffer due to the mismanagement of the KMC,” said Sovandev Chatterjee, president, Employees’ and Workers’ Union.