Centre wants enrolment of unorganised sector workers

The central government has asked states/UTs to launch the Shram Shakti Pehchaan campaign to enrol unorganised sector workers and issue them smart cards to avail of benefits of various schemes, Parliament was informed today.
"(I have).. Requested the Chief Ministers and Lt Governors to launch a campaign code named Shram Shakti Pehchaan in their respective states/UTs for registration of all unorganised workers in two phases during the current financial year," Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
The Centre started the campaign with a view to bringing in convergence of various social security schemes meant for these workers in the unorganised sector.

The Section 10 of the Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 2008, provides for issuance of a smart card with unique identification number which is portable.
The minister further told the House: "First phase of the campaign starts from May Day of 2015 and will continue up to June 30 and the second phase will start from August 15 and end on September 30."
According to the reply, the task of issuance of smart card is vested with the district administration. However, the Labour Ministry has decided to reimburse Rs 20 per card to the states/UTs for facilitating registration of unorganised workers in a big way.

The portability feature of the smart card enables migrant workers to access health facility and other entitlements across the country.

The minister said the Labour Ministry has persistently endeavoured to encourage state governments to issue identity cards to this workforce on a priority basis.
Besides Shram Shakti Pehchaan campaign, an Executive Order which has created an enabling environment in the states/UTs, detailed technical guidelines and standard operating procedures have been communicated to all the authorities concerned for the purpose.
The government is also working on the software and IT platform etc. For developing the national database (of these workers) as mandated under the Act. It has got the budgetary provisions as well as special fund to support these activities.