E Shram Card: Who can Participate? What is provided and How does One Register?

E Shram Card is a scheme executed by the Government of India to ensure that every unorganized worker is issued social security. It’s a big plan and it has been developed by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to understand in which way we can ensure that the informal sector workers should also get the Government services. It is not only for the delivery of essential services for the workers out of the organized sector but it also enables us to design future models and future schemes regarding the improvements for the workers. In this article, we will talk about the E Shram Card and its benefits, eligibility, how to register for the card, and other related issues with illustrative tables where necessary.

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What E Shram Card is?

E Shram Card is a digital apparatus provided to workers hailing from unorganized sectors. It is an identification card that has its all record stored in a centralised data of unorganized laborers. The primary aim of the E Shram initiative taken by the government is to assimilate these workers into the fold of the economy whereby they are covered under social security schemes and avail the benefits provided by the government.

The Major Aspects of the E Shram Card are :

Ordered Unique Number: A 12-digit Universal Account Number also referred to as UAN is issued to every enrolled worker and this is applicable throughout the nation.
Social Security Advantages: The card helps guarantee that the workers can get a variety of services, for example, insurance, pension, and health services.
Centralized Database: The E Shram system gathers basic data regarding the laborers for the purpose of forming a national registry.
Additionally, there are No Frills Government Programs Available: The information collected in this registry will assist the government in creating disbursing welfare programs aimed at the unorganized workforce.

Relevance of E Shram card

The labor force in India is headed by the unorganized sector, which covers almost all its workers. However, these employees do not enjoy any formal employment benefits such as health insurance, pensions, and job security that employees in the formal sector are entitled to. Through registration in the E Shram portal and getting an E Shram Card, such workers can access these benefits helping them to enhance their socio-economic status.

The Purpose of the E Shram Initiative is as follows:

Offer social security to at-risk or precariously employed individuals.
Minimize income unfairness and facilitate a fair share of benefits.
Establish an active database on labor for effective intervention strategies.
Aid in the provision of benefits in periods of calamity occurrence e.g. pandemics or natural disasters.

Eligibility Criteria for the E Shram Card

Certain eligibility criteria have to be satisfied by individuals to apply for the E Shram Card. The E shram Card scheme primarily targets unorganized sector workers who tend to be most exposed and do not have social security employer benefits. The following are the general eligibility criteria:

Eligibility Criteria	Details
Age	16 to 59 years
Sector	Unorganized sector workers (e.g., construction, agriculture, gig workers)
Employment Status	Workers without access to employer-provided social security
Aadhaar Card	Must have a valid Aadhaar card
Mobile Number Linked with Aadhaar	The phone number must be linked to the worker’s Aadhaar card
Bank Account	A valid bank account is required for registration

Eligible unorganized workers include however are not limited to the following construction workers, hawkers, housekeeping maids, farmhands, and gig workers like delivery agents.

Importance of E Shram Card

The E Shram Card has several advantages for workers in the unorganized sector.

Benefit	Description
Accidental Insurance	Coverage of ₹2 lakh in case of accidental death or disability.
Pension Scheme	Access to government pension schemes upon reaching retirement age.
Healthcare Benefits	Workers can receive medical treatment under specific government healthcare programs.
Financial Assistance	Direct benefit transfers and financial aid during emergencies.
Eligibility for Welfare Schemes	Access to other government schemes such as housing and education for children.
Employment Opportunities	Inclusion in the national database helps in finding job opportunities in the formal sector.
Scholarship Programs	Workers’ children can benefit from educational scholarships.

These advantages guarantee that the employees, who were earlier not within the formally established social security systems, can now access government-funded schemes.

Who Doesn’t Need To Register For An E Shram Card?

For those who find it difficult to use the Internet, the E Shram Card can also be applied for at Common Service Centres (CSC) which assist you in the whole process whilst avoiding online usage. The step-wise procedure for getting registered for an E Shram Card is as under.

Eligibility For Registration Process:

Step	Details
Step 1: visit the official Homepage	Open the Esram Government Official Site E Shram eshram.gov.in
Step 2: Aadhar Verification	Enter your aadhaar number and validate it by entering the otp that has been sent to the mobile number associated with the aadhar.
Step 3: Fill in Personal Details	full name, address, date of birth and the gender of course.
Step 4: Employment Information	Include the traits about employment such as the type of employment, the area of work and the job title.
Step 5: Bank Information	Fill in your bank account the reason being payment will be made direct to your bank account.
Step 6: Submit the Form	Please confirm the details submitted are correct and proceed to step nine and submit.
Step 7: Collect E Shram Card	Back system generated a UAN of 12 digits subsequent to which E Shram Card can be generated/printed out.

Registration at Common Service Centres (CSCs):

These are the sites where a patient can carry out registration without the internet or when they don’t know how to carry out the registration online. These are located away from the urban busy centers, where a CSC can be found and registration assistance provided.

Impact of the E Shram Initiative

State	Number of Workers Registered (Approx.)
Uttar Pradesh	8 million
Bihar	5.5 million
West Bengal	6 million
Maharashtra	4 million
Tamil Nadu	3 million

Conclusion

E Shram card plays a pivotal role, especially for the unorganized workers for their protection and concerns over social policies. The E Shram scheme provides access to health care, pension, insurance, and several other government-sponsored services to narrow the divide between the formal economy and the informal hesitating to step in.

FAQs

Q1. What is the cost for the services because of which we can avail of the E Shram Card?

No, there are no fees for registration and availing services of the E Shram Card. The service is offered at no cost.

Q2. Can the application be done for someone else without any law time frame?

No, a valid Aadhaar card must be provided which is compulsory for the registration plus an active mobile number associated with Aadhaar is also required.