e-Shram: 1 Million Gig Workers Registered, Ludhiana Labourers Get Ration Access; How to Register

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently announced a major milestone in the registration of gig workers on the e-Shram portal—a dedicated social security platform for unorganised sector workers. 

Nearly 1 million workers have been brought under its fold so far, with the government aiming to register an additional 3-4 million within the next 3 months. This move aligns with the government’s commitment, outlined in the Union Budget, to extend social welfare coverage to gig and platform workers.

Registration on e-Shram makes workers eligible for several central schemes. Key among them is access to healthcare under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), alongside pension and insurance benefits under PM-SYM(Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan), PMJJBY(Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana), PMSBY( Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana), and Atal Pension Yojana.

Heatwave Protection for Labourers Across India

In light of extreme summer temperatures, the Centre has also issued an advisory to all states and Union Territories, urging immediate implementation of protective measures for workers. These include:

• Rescheduling work hours to avoid peak heat 
• Providing access to drinking water 
• Creating shaded rest areas 
• Ensuring ventilation or cooling at workplaces 
• Conducting regular health checks 
• Distributing ice packs and heat illness prevention kits 

These steps are part of a broader initiative to ensure occupational safety and well-being amid rising climate-related risks.

Read More: Gig Economy: Financial Planning for Freelancers and Independent Contractors in FY 26.

Ludhiana Begins Including e-Shram Workers in Ration Scheme

In a parallel development, the district food supply department of Ludhiana has identified over 15,000 e-Shram cardholders for inclusion in the Public Distribution System (PDS). The initiative follows a Supreme Court order mandating the issuance of ration cards to e-Shram workers across India.

The process began after the department received official data from the e-Shram portal in May 2024. With the help of local ration depot holders, area-wise verification and e-KYC authentication using UAN and Aadhaar details were conducted to confirm eligibility.

Supreme Court Steps In to Safeguard Food Security

The drive was prompted by an October 2023 Supreme Court directive to ensure that approximately 8t crore unorganised workers registered under e-Shram are not excluded from food security schemes. This decision came in response to a petition filed by advocate Prashant Bhushan, who pointed out lapses in the implementation of an earlier court order dated April 20, 2023.

That order had called for the extension of National Food Security Act (NFSA) benefits to marginalised communities, especially migrant and unorganised workers. However, as of the petition’s filing, only 20.63 crore of the 28.6 crore registered e-Shram workers were linked to ration card databases, leaving a significant gap in welfare delivery.

e-Shram Card Registration: A Simple Guide to Apply Online

You can apply for an e-Shram card either online through the official e-Shram portal or by visiting a nearby CSC (Common Service Centre). To find the nearest CSC, simply go to the e-Shram website and enter your state and district.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to apply online:

Step 1:

Visit the e-Shram portal and go to the Self-Registration page.

Step 2:

Enter your mobile number linked with Aadhaar and the captcha shown. Then click on ‘Send OTP’.

Step 3:

Enter your Aadhaar number, accept the terms and conditions, and input the OTP sent to your phone. Click ‘Validate’.

Step 4:

Review your personal details displayed on the screen.

Step 5:

Fill in the required information such as your address and education details.

Step 6:

Choose your skill, type of work, and business nature.

Step 7:

Provide your bank account details and complete the self-declaration section.

Step 8:

Click ‘Preview’ to review your information, and then select ‘Submit’.

Step 9:

An OTP will be sent to your mobile. Enter it and click ‘Verify’.

Step 10:

Your e-Shram card will be generated and displayed on the screen.

You can also download the card directly from the portal for your records.

Conclusion

The recent updates reflect a concerted effort by both the judiciary and the executive to bridge welfare gaps in India’s informal workforce. With increasing digitisation and legal oversight, the e-Shram portal is gradually evolving into a central hub for unorganised sector inclusion in national welfare programmes.

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