Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) to Cover 1 Crore Gig Workers in Union Budget 2025-26

Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) to Cover 1 Crore Gig Workers in Union Budget 2025-26

The Union Budget for 2025-26 announces that the Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) will extend coverage to 1 crore gig workers. PM-JAY offers a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per beneficiary family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization at both public and private empanelled hospitals across India.

In addition to PM-JAY benefits, the government will also issue identity cards and streamline the e-Shram registration process for gig workers.

About Gig Workers
According to the Code on Social Security, 2020, gig workers are individuals who engage in work or work arrangements outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship and earn from such activities.
As per Niti Aayog, 7.7 million workers were involved in the gig economy in 2020-21, a number projected to rise to 2.35 crore by 2029-30.

Challenges Faced by Gig Workers:

• Accessibility Issues: The gig economy is largely restricted by access to the internet and digital technology, making it more prevalent in urban areas.
• Job and Income Insecurity: Many platform workers in India are paid per task and classified as independent contractors, which excludes them from labor rights like minimum wages, working hours, etc.
• Lack of Social Protection: Gig workers often lack safeguards such as health insurance and Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
• Algorithmic Management: Gig workers face stress from pressures related to algorithmic management practices and performance evaluations based on ratings.

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