Lok Sabha Question No. 1447 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Delay in Release the Funds for Labour Welfare
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1447 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## DELAY IN RELEASE THE FUNDS FOR LABOUR WELFARE

1447. DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

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

- (a)whether it is a fact that centrally sponsored schemes for labour welfare,  applicable  to  unorganised  workers  in  Tamil  Nadu  have been delayed during 2025 -26, despite continuing their implementation by the State and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b)whether such delays overlap with arrears and uncertainties arising from  proposed  changes  to  the  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural Employment Guarantee framework, affecting overall labour welfare outlays and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  the  Government  has  reviewed  the  impact  of  delayed central  assistance  on  the functioning  of  Tamil  Nadu's  labour welfare  boards,  employment  exchanges  and  worker  support mechanisms and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)the details of the funds sanctioned and actually released to Tamil Nadu under labour and employment schemes during 2024 -25 and 2025 -26, scheme-wise; and
- (e)the  details  of  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the Government for timely fund flow to Tamil Nadu so that benefits to workers are not disrupted due to inter-governmental delays?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e): 'Labour' is a subject in the Concurrent  list in the Constitution of India and the Central Government supplements the efforts  of  all  the  States  including  Tamil  Nadu  for  the  welfare  of Labourers. The schemes of Ministry of Labour and Employment are Central Sector schemes and are implemented on a pan India basis and  fully  funded  by  the  Central  Government.  Separate  State-wise allocation are not made for these schemes.

Major welfare and social security schemes being implemented are (i) Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PMSYM), a  voluntary  contributory  scheme  with  matching  contribution  by Government of India for old age pension; (ii) Labour Welfare Scheme (LWS) for welfare of Beedi / Cine / Non-Coal Mine workers and their family members covering three components viz. Health, Scholarship and Housing; (iii) National Career Service (NCS) for establishment of Model Career Centres (MCCs); (iv) Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995  implemented  through  EPFO;  (v)  Rehabilitation  of  Bonded Labourers for identification and rehabilitation of bonded labourers; (vi) Health services through Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC); and (vii) Pradhan  Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY). There has been no delay in implementation and release of funds under these schemes.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) under Ministry of Rural Development  is  a  demand-driven  wage  employment  scheme  and funds  are  released  to  the  States  /  UTs  based  on  the  "agreed  to" Labour Budget (LB) and performance of the States / UTs during the financial year. Fund release to States / UTs is a continuous process, and the Central Government is committed to making funds available, keeping in view the demand for work on the ground. Release to the State of Tamil Nadu under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS for the FY 2024-25 & 2025-26 (as on 29.01.2026) is as under:

| Financial Year             |   Total Release (In Crores) |
|----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| 2024-25                    |                     7585.49 |
| 2025-26 (as on 29.01.2026) |                     6860.48 |

The  Ministry  administers  the  Code  on  Social  Security, 2020 and Occupation Safety, Health & Working Condition Code, 2020 for  Building  and  Other  Construction  Workers  (BOCW).  The  State Governments are mandated to collect the Cess and its utilization to provide social security and safety to building and other construction workers viz.  death and disability cover, pension, insurance, health and maternity cover, financial assistance for education of wards of the  registered  Building  and  Other  Construction  Workers,  transit housing, skill development, awareness programmes etc.

Further,  the  eShram  portal  (www.eshram.gov.in)  allows unorganized  workers  to  register  on  the  portal  on  self-declaration basis. The main objective of the e-Shram portal is to create a National Database  of  Unorganized  Workers,  seeded  with  Aadhaar,  and  to facilitate delivery under existing social security and welfare schemes to  such  workers.  As  on  31.12.2025,  over  31.44  Crore  unorganized workers have registered on eShram portal including 95.36 Lakh in the State of Tamil Nadu.

The details of the registered unorganised workers under e-Shram who have benefited from various welfare schemes in Tamil Nadu is Annexed.

The implementation of the schemes such as awareness and mobilization of beneficiaries are addressed with support of State and  local  authorities  including  those  in  Tamil  Nadu  by  organizing awareness camps, facilitating enrolment etc.

*                                                 *****

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1447  FOR  ANSWER  ON  09.02.2026  REGARDING 'DELAY IN RELEASE THE FUNDS FOR LABOUR WELFARE'

The details of the registered unorganised workers under e-Shram, who have benefited from various welfare schemes in Tamil Nadu are as under:

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Scheme                                                             | Number of Enrollments   |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
|         1 | One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)                                             | 61,16,220               |
|         2 | Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB- PMJAY)                 | 45,83,677               |
|         3 | Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)                                    | 19,36,328               |
|         4 | Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM G) | 35,23,931               |
|         5 | Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)                                   | 5,48,188                |
|         6 | Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)                               | 6,14,956                |
|         7 | Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G)                                   | 2,07,551                |
|         8 | Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PMSVANidhi)                   | 86,608                  |
|         9 | Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandna Yojana (PMMVY)                                     | 41,979                  |
|        10 | Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U)                                    | 45,014                  |
|        11 | Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)                           | 57,261                  |
|        12 | Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)                      | 7,351                   |
|        13 | Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)                                   | 1,649                   |

*****