TLI Staff
Fearing to lose medical facilities after the airline is sold to a private company, a section of 40,000 current and retired Air India employees have demanded their inclusion into central government health scheme (CGHS).
Employee benefits and their concerns about medical facilities would be discussed along with other key proposals by a group of ministers (GoM) headed by Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday.
“We do not get pension. In case the airline is privatised, we must be made part of the CGHS. There are so many retired employees. There is very genuine concern about health issues,” an Air India employee said.
Under CGHS, employees of the central government and their dependent families get medical facilities at a network of wellness centres and empanelled private hospitals at discounted rates. The expenses incurred at these facilities are reimbursed. Sitting and former MPs, pensioners, freedom fighters among others are eligible for CGHS benefits.
The government has set the ball rolling for selling its almost entire equity stake in the loss-making airline and the GoM would decide the contours of disinvestment. The deadline for completing the disinvestment is December-end with the first stage of the two-part bidding to kick in by October.
Air India employees are a worried lot these days given that there is uncertainty over the benefits continued by the private party taking over the carrier. While the staff continuing the job would be part of the group life insurance and health insurance but the same would not be availed after retirement.
“There are certain benefits in our service and health is one of them. The government must ensure that they are continued,” another airline official said.
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