Ever since PM Modi began serving his sovereign masters, his mantra has been governing less and serving more. Breaking from the past, Modi era’s reforms have never been election centric. They are structural, permanent and importantly ones which institutionalize welfarism. His development agendas are always flavoured with Institutionalized reforms crafted with statutory apparatus which survive longer without being co-terminus with any particular person.
Taking forward the above mantra, PM Modi’s long time party lieutenant, key strategist and new entrant to his Cabinet, Mr. Bhupendra Yadav, rightly seeded eSHRAM Portal – “National Database of Unorganized Workers” (“NDUW”), which is backed by statutory apparatus emanating from Social Security Code 2020 and Occupational Safety Health Working Conditions Code 2020 (“OSHWC”).
Launched on 26th August, 2021, eSHRAM Portal, is first–ever national database of unorganised workers including migrant, workers, construction workers, gig and platform workers etc. Process for registration is very simple. One need to register with Aadhar Number and submit a self-declaration form.
After registration, the applicant receives eSHRAM card with a 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN). The eSHRAM cards will enable the applicants to directly avail benefits of social security schemes. Currently, benefits include accidental insurance cover of INR 2 lacs under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojna (“PMSBY”).
In future, Social Security Welfare Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) Pension Yojna, National Pension Scheme for Shopkeepers, Traders, and the Self-employed Persons (NPS-Traders), Atal Pension Yojana, PDS, National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) – Old age Protection, Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya (AB – PMJAY), Health Insurance Scheme for Weavers (HIS), National Safai Karamchari Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC), Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers amongst others, may be covered and directly linked to the eSHRAM card.
This novel scheme once completely implemented would seamlessly integrate all welfare and employment schemes with single registration. Further, eSHRAM, has ability to address the concerns of information asymmetric and enable sharing of information of registered unorganised workers with various instrumentalities of the State and Central Government for extending social scheme benefits and proper implementation.
In sums and substance, eSHRAM would organize the unorganized ones by integrating them with social security services and schemes so that benefits could reach out directly to its beneficiaries by cutting delays, red-tape and information intermediaries.
eSHRAM has several inherent and interconnected benefits. Its digitalisation would remove constraints of bureaucracy and procedural friendliness would make access to social welfare much easier and probable than ever before. Additionally, it has power to empower the marginalized which can directly influence the life and dignity of a human being and importantly, addresses the larger issue of human right violations of unorganized labour force.
The profound benefits of the schemes in Modi’s era, actually transcends from – black and white letters of the election manifesto and pamphlets, sloganism, and mere chest thumping, and are actually delivered and visible from smiles of its “Labharthi”. They make difference; real and glaring ones like Ujjwala Yojna, Jal Shakti Yojna, Saubhagya Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojna, MUDRA, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana amongst others.
eSHRAM, after completing registration of 23 Crores within a short span of less than six months, is another addition to concrete and structural changes undertaken by the Modi Government to improve life of marginalized citizens. It is indeed unfolding of a silent revolution, attending needs of unattended section of society.
