E-Shram portal registration of migrant workers commendable, but ration card issuance remains a concern: SC

The Supreme Court's order in M.A. No. 94 of 2022 in SMW(C) No. 6 of 2020 highlighted the efforts undertaken by the Union of India to register migrants/unorganized workers on the eShram portal. The portal provides a Universal Account Number (UAN) to the workers, which will help them in accessing various welfare schemes and benefits offered by the government.

According to the further status report filed by the Union of India, the eShram portal has already registered 28.60 crores migrants/unorganized workers, and out of those, 20.63 crores were also registered on ration card data. The report also stated that approximately 3.82 crores eShram registrants are also found to be beneficiaries under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, and the eligible migrants have been given the benefit of Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mann-Dhan Yojana (PM-SYM).

The court appreciated the efforts made by the Union of India to register migrants/unorganized workers on the eShram portal, but it pointed out that the remaining registrants on eShram, who are still not registered on ration card data and have not been issued ration cards, need to be addressed urgently.

Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, learned ASG appearing on behalf of the Union of India, submitted that each State has its own policies for issuing the ration card, and the concerned State/UT needs to take further steps to issue ration cards to the remaining registrants on eShram.

Shri Prashant Bhushan, learned counsel, pointed out that approximately more than 10 crores persons are deprived of the benefit of the National Food Security Act due to the non-issuance of ration cards, and the census of 2011, which is currently being implemented, does not reflect the population increase after 2011.

The Supreme Court ordered the concerned State/UT to issue ration cards to the left-out registrants on the eShram portal within three months. The State/UT was asked to give wide publicity and approach the remaining registrants through the office of the concerned Collector of the District so that they can be issued ration cards and can get the benefit of the welfare schemes floated by the Union of India and the State Government, including the National Food Security Act. The matter will be put up on October 3, 2023, to enable the Union of India to file a further status report.

In Re Problems and Miseries of Migrant Labourers  vs xxxxxxxxx