Ministry of Labour and Employment has announced that over 30.95 crore unorganised workers have registered on the e-Shram portal as of July 22, 2025.
Launched on August 26, 2021, the portal aims to create a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW), seeded with Aadhaar, and provide each registrant with a Universal Account Number (UAN) for streamlined access to welfare schemes.
Purpose and Scope of the e-Shram Initiative
The e-Shram portal was designed to serve as a “One-Stop-Solution” for unorganised workers, enabling them to access various social security and welfare schemes through a single digital platform.
Workers can register on a self-declaration basis, making the process inclusive and accessible.
The initiative targets workers across sectors such as construction, agriculture, domestic work, street vending, and gig economy roles.
The portal is part of a broader government strategy to extend formal protections to workers who traditionally fall outside the purview of labour laws and structured employment benefits.
e-Shram Portal: Integration with Welfare Schemes
To enhance utility, the e-Shram portal has been integrated with 14 central government schemes, including:
- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)
- Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
- Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin and Urban (PMAY-G & PMAY-U)
- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
- One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
- Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PMSVANidhi)
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
- National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
In addition, the portal is linked with platforms such as UMANG, DigiLocker, Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), National Career Service (NCS), and Open Government Data (OGD), allowing workers to view and manage their benefits digitally.
Budget Vision and Future Expansion
The 2024–25 Union Budget emphasized the development of e-Shram as a centralized access point for unorganised workers to avail social security benefits.
In line with this vision, the Ministry launched the e-Shram “One-Stop-Solution” in October 2024, further integrating services and improving transparency in benefit delivery.
The government continues to encourage registration through awareness campaigns and partnerships with state governments, NGOs, and local bodies.
The portal is expected to play a key role in policy formulation, targeted welfare delivery, and labour market analytics.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
The growing registration numbers are a positive sign for the e-Shram initiative.
However, experts caution that delivering benefits, updating worker profiles, and integrating with state-level schemes remain significant challenges.
There is also a need to track employment status, income levels, and skill development outcomes to make the database more dynamic and actionable.
The success of e-Shram will depend on how effectively it converts registrations into tangible support.
This is especially crucial for vulnerable groups like migrant workers, women, and those in seasonal employment.
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