Ration Cards: eShram Beneficiaries Get 3 Months by Supreme Court

The Ministry of Labour & Employment has conducted a comprehensive analysis of eShram beneficiaries' information, aligning it with the National Food Security Act (NFSA) data stored in the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), as stated by Rameshwar Teli, the Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment.

This endeavour aimed to cross-reference the two datasets, yielding valuable insights. As of February 22, 2023, the assessment revealed that out of a total of 28.59 crore eShram registrants, a substantial 20.63 crore had corresponding entries in the NFSA database of DFPD.

However, it also highlighted that approximately 7.96 crore eShram registrants were absent from the NFSA records.

Taking cognizance of this situation, the Supreme Court, through an order dated April 20, 2023, accorded a three-month window to the respective States and Union Territories (UTs) to facilitate the issuance of ration cards to those who had been inadvertently omitted from the eShram portal.

In line with its commitment to transparency and efficient data sharing, the Ministry of Labour & Employment has actively disseminated eShram data to all State and UT Labour departments. This distribution is facilitated through the Data Sharing Portal (DSP) and the Application Programming Interface (API).

By leveraging these platforms, the Ministry seeks to empower states with the necessary information to streamline their welfare schemes, including the distribution of benefits to eligible eShram registrants who had been previously overlooked.

A commendable development is that all States and UTs have successfully integrated into the Data Sharing Portal, affording them access to the eShram database. This strategic collaboration enhances their ability to extend targeted benefits to deserving individuals, with a specific focus on provisioning Ration Cards.

The Ministry's proactive approach, coupled with the active involvement of various governmental entities, underscores a concerted effort to rectify disparities and ensure that welfare initiatives reach their intended recipients.