On 20 April 2023, the Supreme Court of India instructed State Governments and UT Administrations to issue ration cards to migrant or unorganized workers who are registered on the Centre’s e-Shram portal, but currently do not possess such cards. The court’s direction came in response to an application filed by activists who alleged that the Union and some states had failed to comply with the court’s order of 2021, on providing dry rations and open community kitchens for migrant workers.
The petitioners’ counsel, Advocate Prashant Bhushan, pointed out that due to the lack of updated population figures, more than 100 million people were not covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013, and did not have ration cards. The coverage provided by the food security law, which was based on the 2011 census, was deemed grossly inadequate. The Court gave State Governments three months to issue ration cards to eligible workers registered on the e-Shram portal.
Currently, the Supreme Court has granted an additional three-month period for the concerned states to issue ration cards to those who are registered on the e-Shram portal but have not received them. The court has directed the states to publicize the availability of ration cards widely and urged them to approach eligible people through the district collectors’ offices. By issuing ration cards to more people registered on the portal, eligible workers will be able to avail of the benefits of various welfare schemes offered by the Union of India and state governments, including the National Food Security Act of 2013.
About e-Shram Portal
The e-Shram portal is a digital platform launched by the Government of India in August 2021 with the aim of providing a unique identification number to unorganized sector workers. Its purpose is to create a database of these workers, which will aid in formulating policies to improve their welfare.
Workers can register on the e-Shram portal by providing basic personal details such as their name, age, gender, and Aadhaar number, as well as information about their occupation, employer, and work experience. Upon registration, workers will receive an e-Shram card containing a unique identification number, which they can use to access social welfare schemes, including healthcare, insurance, and financial assistance.
Overall, the e-Shram portal is expected to benefit millions of unorganized sector workers in India by providing them with a unique identity and access to government assistance programs.
The instructions to register on e-Shram Portal can be found on the given links, in English and Hindi.
Read the complete judgment here.
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