eShram portal

The eShram portal was launched in August 2021 to create a national database for migrant and unorganized workers in India. The portal has gained significant momentum since its launch, with over 28.60 crore workers registering on it. The Central Government has started matching data from the eShram portal with the National Food Security Act (NFSA) data to identify registered individuals.

eShram Portal:

The eShram portal is a digital platform launched by the Union Labour Ministry to create a National Database for migrant or unorganized workers across India. The platform aims to provide a Universal Account Number (UAN) for the unorganized or migrant workers to help them access social security and other government initiatives. The portal allows workers to register with their basic details like name, age, address, and profession, and their data is then collected in a centralized database.

Significance of eShram Portal:

The eShram portal has been crucial in creating a national database for the migrant and unorganized workers in India. The portal provides an opportunity for these workers to access social security schemes and other government initiatives, which were earlier inaccessible to them. The portal will also help in creating a more robust and structured labor market and help the government keep track of the workforce. The database will also be instrumental in policymaking for the welfare of the unorganized and migrant workers in the country.

Matching Data:

Recently, the Central Government has started matching data from the eShram portal with the National Food Security Act (NFSA) data. The NFSA data is under the control of the Department of Food and Public Distribution, and it contains details of individuals who are eligible for subsidized food grains under the Act. Matching these two data sets has revealed that of the 28.60 crore eShram registrants, 20.63 crore individuals have registered in the NFSA database.

Implications:

The matching of data from the eShram portal and the NFSA database is significant as it will help identify registered individuals who are eligible for subsidized food grains under the Act. It will also help the government in creating a more accurate and structured database of workers in the country. The data collected from the eShram portal can be used for policymaking for the welfare of unorganized and migrant workers in the country. The portal can also help in better implementation of government initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PMSYM) and the Atal Pension Yojana (APY).