Relaunch of eShram Portal with Enhanced Features for Gig Workers
- October 24, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
No Comments
Relaunch of eShram Portal with Enhanced Features for Gig Workers
Sub: Schemes
Sec: Eco
Overview:
- The eShram portal, originally launched on August 26, 2021, has been reintroduced with new features aimed at better serving unorganised workers including gig and platform workers.
- Union Labour Minister announced the relaunch, emphasizing the platform’s goal of streamlining access to social security and welfare schemes via a one-stop solution.
- The portal registers workers on a self-declaration basis, and approximately 60,000 to 90,000 new users sign up every day.
- The Labour Ministry has allocated ₹300 crore to enhance the eShram portal, aiming to address existing issues and improve user experience.
- Recent discussions with platform aggregators like Urban Company, Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, Uber, and industry bodies have emphasized the need to register gig workers on the eShram platform, ensuring better social security coverage.
Key Enhancements and Features:
- Integration with Central Schemes:
- The portal has integrated 12 central schemes, providing users easy access to a variety of government benefits.
- Some of these schemes include:
- Ration Card
- PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi)
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G)
- Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan
- National Disability Pension
- National Widow Pension
- PM Matisya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
- Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH)
- eShram Card 2.0:
- The enhanced version, known as eShram Card 2.0, focuses on gig and platform workers who do not have a conventional employer-employee relationship.
- A special committee has been set up to develop a framework that ensures these workers receive social security benefits.
- Unique IDs will be issued to gig workers, offering them access to a comprehensive set of benefits.
- Nationalized Database Linked with Aadhaar:
- The platform is integrated with Aadhaar, ensuring that the data of unorganised workers is consolidated in a nationalized database.
- The Finance Minister had earlier stated that full integration of eShram with other portals will enhance access to services like employment and skill development.
- Social Security Benefits:
- eShram cardholders are entitled to:
- ₹2 lakh life insurance
- ₹3,000 pension per individual or ₹6,000 per couple after retirement.
- ₹1 lakh financial aid for partially handicapped workers.