By Abhay Ray 
Introduction
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a social security scheme for one crore gig workers engaged with online platforms and said the government will provide them identity cards and facilitate their registration on the e-Shram portal. The move will help these platform workers get benefits of social welfare schemes run by various government agencies. In the Union Budget 2025 speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government will provide identity cards and facilitate registration on the e-Shram portal for 1 crore gig workers. These workers, including those associated with Zomato and Blinkit, will also receive healthcare benefits under the PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
PM-JAY provides insurance cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization. Notably, all pre-existing conditions are covered from day one in the respective States/Union Territories.
A Gig Worker
As per the Code on Social Security, 2020, a gig worker is anyone who performs work or earns income outside the traditional employer-employee relationship, typically in on-demand jobs like food delivery, ride-hailing, or freelance work. These include persons engaged with online platforms like Uber, Ola, Swiggy, and Zomato, among others.
About the e-Shram platform
The e-Shram portal was launched in August 2021 to register and support workers in unorganised sectors by providing them with a Universal Account Number (UAN) and create a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW). The e-Shram platform, launched by the government of India, aims to provide social security to unorganized sector workers. It simplifies access to government welfare programs and maintains a comprehensive database of workers. As of January 27, 2025, over 30.58 crore unorganised workers have already registered on the e-Shram portal. So far, 12 schemes of different central ministries or departments have been integrated/mapped with e-Shram.
How to register on e-Shram?
To register, you need:
- Aadhaar Number
- Mobile number linked with Aadhaar
- Savings Bank Account number with IFSC code
Note: If a worker does not have an Aadhaar-linked mobile number, he/she may visit nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) or State Seva Kendra (SSK) and register through biometric authentication.
Steps for applying for an e-Shram Card online.
Step 1: Visit the self-registration page on the e-Shram portal – www.eshram.gov.in
Step 2: Enter your Aadhaar-linked cell phone number and click the “Send OTP” option.
Step 3: Agree to the terms and conditions, enter the OTP sent to your mobile device, and provide your Aadhaar number.
Step 4: Verify personal data displayed on the screen and add your address and educational background, nominee details, bank details in the specified fields and click Submit.
Don’t forget to select the relevant skill name, type of business, and nature of work. Upon completion, you will receive your e-Shram card.
Gig Workforce
According to NITI Aayog estimates, India’s gig workforce is projected to grow from 7.7 million in 2024 to 23.5 million by 2029-30.With the expansion of the digital economy, freelancing opportunities have surged, driving the rapid growth of the gig sector. By FY30, the gig economy is expected to reach 235 million workers, making up 4.1 per cent of the total workforce.“Government taking some responsibility for gig workers is a welcome move but the plight of gig workers is beyond this. There should be all-encompassing legislation to govern the operation of app-based platform companies to safeguard the interest of the gig workers,” said Vinay Sarathy V, President, United Food Delivery Partners’ Union (UFDPU).
However, Vinay noted that the modalities to access the new health insurance scheme are not yet released. As there is no transparency in hiring, no regulations for payment, grievance redressal, working hours, workplace safety and others it may just remain a pious declaration and would not serve the intended purpose of health coverage in reality.“Five years down the line most of the informal workers will be in the platform sector. It is time that the government to bring in a proper policy, ensure the security, safety and the rights of the gig workers,” he added.
Shaik Salauddin, national general secretary of the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), says for these schemes to be fully effective, aggregator companies must share data on gig and platform workers with the government. “The Government of India must ensure strict implementation and accountability, making it compulsory for all platform companies to register workers and contribute towards social security schemes. There is a need to ensure contributions by aggregator companies towards social security schemes for gig and platform workers”, he said.He said it is further important to strengthen the integration of e-Shram registration for gig and platform workers with existing welfare schemes. Registration alone will not suffice to ensure that gig workers can access the full benefits of these initiatives.
Conclusion
It is essential for the government to promote corporate-led upskilling, CSR-focused initiatives, and apprenticeship-based training to support the integration of gig workers into India’s formal economy. This approach will not only enhance employment opportunities but also contribute to long-term economic growth by fostering greater participation and sustainability in the workforce.
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