The Indian government is planning to come out with a national social security card scheme, which is going to benefit nearly 40 crore unorganised workers in the country, accounting for nearly 89% of the total workforce.
Under the scheme, the beneficiaries would be able to avail social security schemes such as Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana, the Atal Pension Yojana, the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, etc under one platform.
This comes under the backdrop of the government’s promise to the workers as they are threatening to go on a day-long demonstration on March 10 against the "anti-labour" policies of the BJP-led NDA government.
The labour ministry has proposed Rs. 1,350 crore for this fiscal to register and issue national social security card to workers.
"The labour ministry will implement and monitor the roll-out of the national social security card across the country because of its outreach to unorganised workers and our past experience of implementing the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana," an official told ET.
The IT ministry was not in the favour of a single card system as citing duplication of work as the government is already in discussions to link welfare schemes with the Aadhaar card.
(Image: Indiatimes)