About e-Shram Card
The Ministry of Labour & Employment, one of the oldest and most significant ministries in India, has always been committed to protecting and enhancing the welfare of the country’s workforce. In its ongoing efforts to improve the lives of workers, especially those in unorganised sectors, the ministry has launched the e-Shram portal. This innovative platform aims to create a national database for unorganised workers, enabling them to access a wide range of social security benefits and ensuring their welfare and dignity.
What is the e-Shram Portal?
The e-Shram portal, developed by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at creating a National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW). This database is linked with Aadhaar and includes comprehensive details about the workers, such as their name, occupation, address, occupation type, educational qualification, and skill set. The primary objective is to optimize the employability of these workers and extend the benefits of various social security schemes to them.
The e-Shram portal is the first of its kind in India, focusing on unorganised workers, including migrant workers, construction workers, gig and platform workers, street vendors, domestic workers, and agricultural laborers. By registering on this portal, workers can ensure that they are included in the government’s plans for social security and welfare, thus enhancing their quality of life.
Objectives of the e-Shram Portal
The e-Shram portal has been designed with several key objectives in mind:
- Centralized Database Creation:- The portal aims to create a centralized database of all unorganised workers (UWs) in India. This includes various categories of workers such as construction workers, migrant workers, gig and platform workers, street vendors, domestic workers, and agricultural laborers. The database is seeded with Aadhaar to ensure accuracy and reliability.
- Improving Social Security Implementation:- By consolidating the data of unorganised workers, the portal aims to enhance the efficiency of social security services provided to them. This includes integrating various social security schemes administered by the Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE) and eventually extending to schemes run by other ministries.
- Information Sharing:- The portal facilitates the sharing of information about registered unorganised workers with various stakeholders, including ministries, departments, boards, agencies, and organizations at both central and state levels. This ensures that social security and welfare schemes are delivered effectively to those who need them.
- Portability of Benefits:- One of the major challenges faced by migrant and construction workers is the portability of their social security and welfare benefits. The e-Shram portal addresses this by ensuring that workers can access their benefits regardless of where they are in the country.
- Crisis Management:- The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for a comprehensive database that could be used to provide immediate assistance during national crises. The e-Shram portal is designed to provide such a database, enabling both central and state governments to respond more effectively in future emergencies.
Who Can Register on the e-Shram Portal?
Registration on the e-Shram portal is open to all unorganised workers who meet the following criteria:
- Age Requirement:
- Workers should be between 16 and 59 years old.
- Non-membership of EPFO/ESIC/NPS:
- The worker should not be a member of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), or the National Pension Scheme (NPS) funded by the government.
Who is Considered an Unorganised Worker?
An unorganised worker (UW) is defined as any worker who is:
- Home-based:- Workers who perform their tasks from home, often engaged in industries like handloom, handicrafts, or small-scale production.
- Self-employed:- Workers who run their own small businesses or trades without formal employment, such as street vendors, small shop owners, or independent artisans.
- Wage Workers: - Workers who are employed in the unorganised sector on a daily wage basis or as contract laborers, including those who work in the organised sector but are not covered by ESIC or EPFO, or who are not government employees.
Documents Required for e-Shram Registration
To register on the e-Shram portal, the following documents are required
- Aadhaar Number:- This serves as the primary identification for registration.
- Mobile Number Linked with Aadhaar:- A mobile number linked to the worker’s Aadhaar is necessary for receiving OTPs (One-Time Passwords) and completing the registration process.
Benefits of Registering on the e-Shram Portal
By registering on the e-Shram portal, unorganised workers can access a range of benefits, including:
- Pension Benefits:- Workers will receive a pension of ₹3,000 per month after reaching 60 years of age.
- Insurance Coverage:- The portal provides for ₹2 lakh in case of accidental death and ₹1 lakh for partial disability.
- Eligibility for Government Schemes:- Registered workers will be eligible for various government welfare schemes aimed at improving their social and economic conditions.
- Portability of Benefits:- Registered workers, particularly migrants, will enjoy the portability of their social security benefits across the country.
Summary
The e-Shram portal represents a significant step forward in safeguarding the interests of India’s unorganised workforce. By creating a comprehensive database of unorganised workers, the government aims to improve the delivery of social security and welfare benefits, ensuring that every worker receives the support they deserve. If you are an unorganised worker or know someone who is, registering on the e-Shram portal is a crucial step towards securing a better future.
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