Odisha's Gig Economy Boom Fails to Translate into Social Security Coverage
In a concerning development for Odisha's rapidly growing gig workforce, state Labor and ESI Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia revealed to the assembly on Tuesday that registration on the crucial e-Shram portal remains alarmingly low. This significant gap leaves a substantial portion of platform workers unable to access the social security benefits they are entitled to under current legislation.
Minimal Official Recognition for Thousands of Workers
According to official data presented by Minister Singkhuntia in response to a query from MLA Prasanna Acharya, only 17,450 gig and platform workers from Odisha have registered on the Ministry of Labour and Employment's e-Shram portal. These workers are primarily engaged as food and grocery delivery personnel and taxi drivers, among other platform-based roles.
"Only 230 delivery boys have been included under the Odisha Unorganised Workers' Social Security Board, as per official records of the labour department," Singkhuntia stated in his written reply. He further explained that "as per Section-114 of the Code on Social Security, 2020, central government will frame and notify suitable social security schemes for gig and platform workers."
Contrast Between Portal and Board Functions
The e-Shram portal serves to register unorganised workers, including those in gig and platform roles, providing them with a Universal Account Number (UAN) based on self-declaration. This registration enables access to various social security benefits, including medical and accident insurance coverage. Meanwhile, the Odisha Unorganised Workers' Social Security Board has been operating with similar objectives since 2011.
Despite these mechanisms, the state government has yet to initiate a comprehensive drive to identify the actual number of gig workers in Odisha. Historical data presented by former Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Rameswar Teli in the Lok Sabha during 2021 placed their number at 52,123 individuals, comprising:
- 27,335 men
- 24,781 women
- 7 transgender persons
Exponential Growth Without Corresponding Protections
Labour rights activist Mahendra Parida, who also serves as a member of the Odisha Unorganised Workers' Social Security Board, emphasized that the number of gig workers has multiplied many times since 2021. This dramatic increase is attributed to the proliferation of online service delivery platforms across the state.
Parida identified lack of awareness as the primary reason for low registration rates on both the e-Shram portal and the state board. "The gig workers who are on the move for more than 12 hours in a day have no way to know about registration processes unless there are dedicated awareness drives on the issue for them," he explained.
Structural Challenges and Funding Gaps
The activist highlighted several structural issues compounding the problem. Unlike other states, gig and platform workers in Odisha lack formal associations or unions to advocate for their rights and facilitate registration processes. Additionally, Parida noted that "there has been no specific funds allocation for the Board by the state government for some years now."
This funding gap raises critical questions about implementation. "So, even if they register, how are they going to benefit?" Parida asked, pointing to the disconnect between registration mechanisms and actual benefit delivery.
Government Initiatives and Future Prospects
A labour department official disclosed that a special campaign was conducted in April of last year specifically targeting registration of gig and platform workers on the e-Shram portal. Similar awareness drives continue at regular intervals to improve registration rates.
"Because one of the ways the benefits of the Code on Social Security, 2020, will reach them is after they register in e-Shram," the officer explained. He added that clear definitions and provisions for this workforce were only established with the Code on Social Security that came into force in November of last year.
"Hence, registration of more such workers in the Board will take time," the officer concluded, acknowledging the gradual nature of implementing these new regulatory frameworks for India's evolving gig economy workforce.
