Healthcare scheme for 1 crore gig workers: Finance, labour ministry working out modalities

The finance ministry, in consultation with the Labour Ministry, is working out the modalities of a scheme to provide healthcare benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) to nearly 1 crore gig workers, a senior government official said.

In an interview with PTI, Expenditure Secretary Manoj Govil said the parameters and details of the scheme are being finalised in consultation with the Ministry of Labour and other concerned departments.

Govil said the social security scheme for gig workers could either be a 100 per cent Central Sector scheme or a centrally sponsored scheme where the cost would be shared between the Centre and states in a 60:40 ratio.

"Once the scheme details are finalised, the cost will be calculated," Govil added.

In her Budget 2025-26 speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government will facilitate identity cards and registration of gig workers on the e-Shram portal.

"...Gig workers of online platforms provide great dynamism to the 'New Age' services economy. Recognising their contribution, our government will arrange for their identity cards and registration on the e-Shram portal," she said.

The scheme is expected to benefit nearly 1 crore gig workers engaged in various online platform-based services.

PM-JAY, part of the Ayushman Bharat initiative, is the world’s largest health assurance scheme, providing an annual health cover of ₹5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. The scheme currently covers over 12 crore poor and vulnerable families.

The Union Cabinet had earlier, in September 2024, decided that all senior citizens aged 70 and above would receive health coverage under PM-JAY, irrespective of their income status.