Cabinet approves merger of NIMH with ICMR-NIOH

Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved to dissolve National Institute of Miners’ Health (NIMH), an autonomous Institute under Union Ministry of Mines (MoM) and merge it with ICMR-NIOH (Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Occupational Health), Ahmedabad, under Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) with all assets and liabilities.

Key Highlights

Actions required for effecting dissolution and merger of NIMH with NIOH will be taken by NIMH, ICMR, NIOH, MoM and Department of Health Research (DHR), MoH&FW.

This NIHM amalgamation with ICMR-NIOH also includes absorbing of all employees of NIMH in NIOH in similar post/pay scale as case may be and their pay be protected.

Impact: NIMH-NIOH merger will prove beneficial to both Institutes in term of enhanced expertise in field of occupational health as well as efficient management of public money.

Expenditure Management Commission which was reviewing working and performance of autonomous institutes recommended merger of NIMH with NIOH. It suggested that organisations with similar objectives can be considered for merger to encourage synergy in operations and reduction in cost.

About National Institute of Miners’ Health (NIMH)

It was set up in 1990 by Government of India.

It is registered as a Society under Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960.

NIMH’s registered office is located at Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka and Central Laboratory in Nagpur.

It conducts applied research in occupational health and hygiene. It specializes in providing technical support services to mining as well as mineral based industry with special reference to metalliferous sector. It also endeavors for safe mines and healthy miners through research & development (R&D).

Focus Areas: NIOH focuses on a vast array of areas related to occupational health including occupational medicine and occupational hygiene.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2019