Hindu Editorial Analysis : 6-January-2025
The e-Shram portal, launched by the Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoL&E) in May 2021, is aimed at creating a national database for unorganised workers in India. According to the Ministry, this portal has become the largest such database globally, with over 300 million workers registered. This essay explores the background, challenges, significance, and recommendations for improving the e-Shram portal.
Background
The need for a national database of unorganised workers became critical during the pandemic when many migrant workers faced severe hardships and mass exodus from cities. The Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to build a database that could support the welfare of these vulnerable workers. In response, the MoL&E initiated the e-Shram portal to gather data from over 400 occupations spread across 30 sectors. The registration process is Aadhaar verified, ensuring that each worker has a unique identity. However, despite these efforts, several challenges remain.
Current Challenges
The e-Shram portal, while a step forward, faces several hurdles:
- Eligibility Exclusion: Many migrant workers are unable to register due to a lack of necessary documentation, such as an Aadhaar card or a ration card.
- Mobile Number Issues: A significant number of workers don’t have Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers, which further limits their access to the portal.
- Limited Functionality: While the portal mainly serves as a registration tool, it does not guarantee workers’ access to essential benefits like food security or ration cards.
- Migrant Workers’ Vulnerability: Migrant workers are often disenfranchised due to their high mobility, which leads to issues like trafficking and poor access to public services.
- Gender Disparities: Although women make up 53.59% of registrations, they face additional challenges, requiring policies that are more gender-sensitive.
- Data Gaps: There is a lack of detailed disaggregation in data based on gender, region, and migration patterns, hindering targeted policymaking.
Significance of the e-Shram Portal
The e-Shram portal serves as a crucial tool in improving the lives of unorganised workers. Its significance includes:
- Access to Social Security: The portal aims to connect workers to benefits like pensions, insurance, and healthcare.
- Data-Driven Policies: The portal provides a wealth of data that can help the government create policies that cater specifically to the needs of unorganised workers.
- Empowerment: By providing a unique identity to workers, the portal empowers them, making it easier to access welfare schemes.
- Disaster Relief: The portal allows for the quick identification of affected workers during crises, facilitating faster relief.
- Informed Policy Formulation: Data from e-Shram can help refine labor laws, wages, and working conditions.
The One-Stop Solution (OSS) Initiative
The One-Stop Solution (OSS) initiative was launched to integrate various welfare schemes such as One Nation One Ration Card, MGNREGA, and PM Shram Yogi Maandhan into the e-Shram portal. This initiative aims to provide a comprehensive safety net for workers, ensuring that they have access to pensions, insurance, housing, and skill development programs.
Recommendations for Improvement
To make the e-Shram portal more effective, several steps can be taken:
- Simplify Documentation: It’s essential to make registration easier, especially for workers without Aadhaar or other documents.
- Ensure Access to Benefits: The government must focus on ensuring that all registered workers can access social security benefits, not just registration.
- Data Disaggregation: Collecting detailed data based on migration, gender, and region will help in creating more targeted and effective policies.
- Portability of Benefits: Social security benefits should be portable across states, especially for migrant workers who move frequently.
- Gender-Sensitive Policies: Address the specific challenges faced by women workers, such as unequal pay and lack of job security.
- Human Development Focus: Recognize migrant workers as assets, not burdens, and prioritize their overall well-being and development.
Why In News
The Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoL&E) recently claimed that, with over 300 million workers registered, the e-Shram portal is the largest database of unorganised workers in the world, reflecting the government’s commitment to formalising and improving the welfare of India’s vast informal workforce.
MCQs about e-Shram Portal
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What was the primary reason for the creation of the e-Shram portal?
A. To help formalise the workforce and increase taxes
B. To provide training programs for skilled workers
C. To create a national database of unorganised workers
D. To help workers transition to the formal economy
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What is one of the main challenges faced by migrant workers in registering on the e-Shram portal?
A. Lack of internet access
B. Inability to afford registration fees
C. Absence of necessary documentation like Aadhaar
D. Difficulty understanding the registration process
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Which initiative was launched to integrate various welfare schemes into the e-Shram portal?
A. National Worker Registration Program
B. One-Stop Solution (OSS) Initiative
C. Migrant Workers Empowerment Scheme
D. Labour Welfare and Protection Act
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What is one key recommendation for improving the e-Shram portal?
A. Limit registration to only skilled workers
B. Focus on simplifying registration and documentation requirements
C. Restrict social security benefits to registered workers
D. Focus only on male workers to address gender disparities
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