Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chaired the 196th ESIC Meeting at Shimla

 To encourage voluntary registration of unregistered employers and excluded personnel, including contractual labour, the SPREE Scheme (July–Dec 2025) was revived.

 To provide full-spectrum services (OPD to emergency) in underprivileged areas, the Pilot Project with Charitable Hospitals was authorised.

 The Amnesty Scheme (October 2025–September 2026) encourages voluntary compliance by giving regional directors the authority to remove some old or concluded cases within a one-time dispute settlement window.

 To facilitate compliance and reduce litigation, a flat 1% monthly rate was substituted for the complex framework of the graded penalty structure.

 In order to encourage comprehensive and preventative treatment, the AYUSH Policy (2023) was updated to formally incorporate Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and homeopathy into ESIC services.

 To improve wellness options, the chair authorised the hiring of yoga therapists and panchakarma attendants.

 Under RGSKY (Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojna), the Director General is permitted to prolong the employment loss benefit application time beyond 12 months on an individual basis.

These policies aim to reduce regulatory burdens, promote formalisation and compliance, enhance healthcare access (including alternative systems), and expand coverage.