Technical snag makes e-Shram registration tough

KADAPA: Registration and issuance of identity cards for workers in the unorganised sector across the state through e-Shram portal seems to have hit hard due to persistent technical glitch. According to an official estimate, there are over 146.09 lakh labourers working in unorganised sectors in Andhra Pradesh. As on Friday afternoon, there were only 2,70,095 workers registered in the e-Shram portal and got identity cards. Although the process of registration of workers in the e-Shram portal is in full swing, there are problems with the portal being very slow across the state. Workers at common service centres and secretariats often have to stand in queues for hours.

Registration of workers in the unorganised sector is going on as per the directions of the union ministry of labour and the Supreme Court. Cards are being issued specifically to identify workers, especially for the implementation of social security and other welfare schemes in this sector. The union minister for labour and employment Bhupinder Yadav launched the e-Shram portal on 26 August, 2021. A total of 38 crores workers are in the unorganised sector across the country including housing sector, migrant labour, street vendors, domestic workers, etc. Workers can register their names directly online. Otherwise, they can register for free at the common service centres (CSCs) run by the government or through any service centre.

There are 7,678 common service centres in the State working for this purpose. Along with these, all village and ward secretariates also are enrolling workers in the e-Shram portal. The worker registered in this portal will be given an e-Shram card with a 12-digit unique number. Officials say the cards are being issued to provide workers directly the benefits of social security schemes. A large-scale campaign is underway to make workers aware of this. A national toll-free number - 14434 will also be launched to assist and address the queries of workers seeking registration on the portal.

A worker can register on the portal using his or her Aadhaar card number and bank account details, apart from filling other necessary details like date of birth, home town, mobile number and social category.

Deputy commissioner of labour Kadaru Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy told this newspaper that the worker who registered in the portal will get an accident insurance of Rs 2 lakh under the Prime Minister’s Suraksha Yojana. He said the workers should be between 16 and 59 years of age and the insurance premium would be paid by the Central government. He said the data would be the standard for all future welfare schemes implemented by the government. Agricultural and allied employment workers, professional workers, Anganwadi workers, Asha workers, members of self-help groups, etc. can all register under the scheme.