Union Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun M Kharge today released 25 'pehchan' (identity) cards, designed by technology giant Wipro Technology, to the beneficiaries of the Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), a statutory corporation under the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment.

ESIC's Project Panchdeep, worth Rs 1182 crore, containing five components including Pehchan, Milap, Pashan, Dhanwantri and Pragati was awarded to Wipro Infotech in March this year, in a bid to provide smooth and efficient, technology-supported services to the stakeholders.

Government will provide plastic cards to all insured persons and their family members. The cards will contain details related to identification, authentication and verification of the insured persons. The card will also contain photographs of all family members and biometric detail, which will be used to avail services from ESI hospitals and ESI dispensaries.

Anand Sankaran, Senior VP & Head, India and Middle East, Wipro Infotech said: "It is really a momentous occasion for all of us to witness the beginning of an era of digitalised public health services to the masses. Our commitment to the project despite its scale has ensured we have met the challenging deadline and will do so for the milestones of the project in the coming months."