Lok Sabha Question No. 187 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Formulation of Employment Guarantee Scheme for the Unorganised Sector Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Tanuj Punia

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 187 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024

## FORMULATION OF EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME FOR THE

## UNORGANISED SECTOR WORKERS

## 187.  SHRI TANUJ PUNIA:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether  the  Government  proposes  to  formulate  an  employment guarantee scheme for the workers of the unorganised sector in cities on  the  lines  of  employment  guarantee  scheme  for  the  rural  areas 'MGNREGA' and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether  unorganised  workers  are  not  getting  benefits  of  various Government schemes, if so, the State-wise details of the beneficiaries along with those who remain deprived of such benefits;
- (c)whether a large number of unorganised workers are engaged in such
- industries where labour law does not apply; and
- (d)whether the Government proposes to make special law for the same,
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

- (a) to (d): As  per  the  provisions  of  the  Unorganised  Workers'  Social Security  (UWSS)  Act,  2008,  the  Government  is  committed  to  provide Social Security to all the workers of the unorganised sector including daily labourers by formulating suitable welfare schemes on the matters relating to: (i) life and disability cover; (ii) health and maternity benefits; (iii) old age protection; and (iv) any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government.

The  UWSS  Act,  2008  is  subsumed  in  the  Code  on  Social

Security, 2020.

The  Life  and  Disability  cover  is  provided  through  Pradhan Mantri  Jeevan  Jyoti  Bima  Yojana  (PMJJBY)  and  Pradhan  Mantri

Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) respectively.

The  Ayushman  Bharat-Pradhan  Mantri  Jan  Arogya  Yojana (ABPMJAY) provides an annual health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per eligible family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. The Government of India has extended the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya

Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to all senior citizens aged 70 and above.

In  order  to  provide  old  age  social  security  cover,  the Government of India launched Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme in 2019. It provides monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years. The workers in the age group of 18-40 years whose monthly income is Rs.15000/- or less and who are not  a  member  of  EPFO/ESIC/NPS  (Govt.  funded)  can  join  the  PM-SYM Scheme. Under this scheme 50% monthly contribution is payable by the beneficiary  and  equal  matching  contribution  is  paid  by  the  Central Government.

Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) is a demand driven wage employment scheme which provides for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households  in  rural  areas  by  providing  at  least  one  hundred  days  of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

Apart from above, other schemes such as Public Distribution System through  One  Nation  One  Ration  Card  scheme  under  National Food  Security  Act,  Deen  Dayal  Upadhyay  Gramin  Kaushal  Yojana, Pradhan  Mantri  Awas  Yojana,  Mahatma  Gandhi  Bunkar  Bima  Yojana, Deen  Dayal  Antyodaya  Yojana,  PMSVANidhi,  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) and etc. are  also  available  for  the  unorganised  workers  depending  upon  their eligibility criteria.

Further,  the  Government  has  launched  eShram  portal  in Database  of Unorganised  Workers  and  to  facilitate  delivery  of  Social  Security

August, 2021  with an objective to create National Schemes/Welfare Schemes to the unorganised workers.

Ministry of Labour and Employment has now launched the eShram -'On e- StopSolution' on 21 st  October 2024. eShram -'One Stop -Solution' entails integration of different Social Security/ Welfare schemes at single portal i.e., eShram. This enables unorganised workers registered  on  eShram  to  access  social  security  schemes  and  see benefits  availed  by  them  so  far,  on  a  single  portal  i.e.,  eShram.  For example,  workers  will  be  able  to  see  MGNREGA  job  card,  PMAY-G statement, PM-SYM statement, Ration card details, search of NCS job opportunities etc. on eShram -One Stop Solution.

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