The Ministry of Labour and Employment (Ministry), is administering National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) (eShram) (Scheme) to provide registration facility to all unorganised workers along with ex gratia benefit to registered unorganised workers, which is being implemented through National Informatics Centre and Common Service Centres (Implementing Agency).
This initiative is not just about registration; it’s a comprehensive system designed to provide ex gratia benefits to registered unorganised workers, a segment that forms the backbone of the Indian economy yet often remains in the shadows when it comes to social security.
Implemented through the National Informatics Centre and Common Service Centres, this scheme took a pivotal turn with a recent notification. As per the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, an important amendment has been made: To avail the benefits of this scheme, workers must now furnish proof of possession of the Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication.
The timeline for this scheme is crucial. Unorganised workers who registered between 26th August 2021 and 31st March 2022 and met with an accident during this period are entitled to an ex gratia payment of up to two lakh rupees in the event of accidental death or total irrecoverable disability and one lakh rupees for partial irrecoverable disability.
This scheme is financed through the Consolidated Fund of India, indicating the government’s commitment to supporting its most vulnerable workers. However, the integration of Aadhaar brings both benefits and challenges. On the one hand, it ensures that the assistance reaches the intended beneficiary, eliminating fraud and duplication. On the other hand, it necessitates that every beneficiary must have an Aadhaar number, which can be a hurdle for some.
Recognizing this, the Ministry, through its Implementing Agency, is mandated to provide Aadhaar enrolment facilities for beneficiaries not yet enrolled. In areas lacking such facilities, arrangements are made to provide them at convenient locations. Until Aadhaar is assigned, other documents like bank passbooks, PAN cards, passports, etc., can be used for identification.
The scheme also addresses the potential issue of Aadhaar authentication failure due to poor biometrics. Remedial mechanisms include iris scan or face authentication, Aadhaar One Time Password, or Time-based One-Time Password authentication. In extreme cases, physical Aadhaar letters with a verifiable Quick Response code can be used.
The Ministry is keen on ensuring that no eligible beneficiary is left out. To this end, wide publicity through media and other communication channels is being planned to make workers aware of the Aadhaar requirement. Furthermore, an exception handling mechanism, as specified in the Office Memorandum of Direct Benefit Transfer Mission, Cabinet Secretariat, ensures that beneficiaries are not deprived of their rights due to technical issues.
