Parliament Question: Workers engaged in NTFP

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3473 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 WORKERS ENGAGED IN NTFP

3473. SMT. SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to

state:

(a)whether the Government maintains official estimates of workers engaged in the collection, processing and marketing of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) in the unorganised sector in the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise particularly Jharkhand and Odisha;

(b)the details of number of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) collectors registered on the eShram Portal and covered under labour welfare and social security schemes in the country, State/UT-wise, particularly for Jharkhand and Odisha;

(c)whether the Government has undertaken any assessment of the earnings, wage levels, livelihood conditions and contribution of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) collectors to formal industries and value chains and if so, the details thereof;

(d)whether e-Shram data is being utilised for planning skill development, welfare interventions and livelihood support for Non- Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) collectors and other forest-based workers; and

(e)if so, the details thereof, including measures taken by the Government in Jharkhand and Odisha? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a) to (e): The Ministry of Labour and Employment launched eShram portal (eshram.gov.in) on 26th August, 2021 for creation of a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) including Forestry Labourers and Related Workers. The eShram portal registers the unorganised workers on a self-declaration basis and provides them a Universal Account Number (UAN).

Contd..2/-:: 2 ::

Over 31.85 crore unorganised workers have already been registered on eShram portal. The total number of unorganised workers registered under Occupation “Forestry Labourers and Related Workers” across the country is 3,95,102 including 13,581 and 59,018 in the State Jharkhand and Odisha respectively.

In keeping with the vision of the Budget Announcement 2024-25 on developing eShram as a One-Stop-Solution for unorganized workers to have access to various social security schemes, Ministry of Labour and Employment launched the eShram– “One-Stop-Solution” on 21st October 2024. eShram– “One-Stop- Solution” entails integration of different social security/ welfare schemes at single portal i.e. eShram. This enables unorganised workers registered on eShram to access social security schemes and see benefits availed by them so far, through eShram.

So far, fifteen (15) schemes of different Central Ministries/ Departments have already been integrated/ mapped with the eShram to extend benefits and access to social security, insurance or skill development programmes to eShram cardholders including Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PMSVANidhi), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G), Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandna Yojana

(PMMVY), etc.

The details of Forestry Labourers and Related Workers registered on eShram portal and enrolled under various social security schemes in Jharkhand and Odisha is annexed. * *****Annexure Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.

3473 for 10.08.2026 regarding “Workers engaged in NTFP” raised by Smt. Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo.

Details of Forestry Labourers and Related Workers registered on eShram portal and enrolled under various social security schemes in Jharkhand and Odisha.

Schemes Enrollments Enrollments in Jharkhand in Odisha One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) 11,805 53,660 Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi 23 127

(PMSVANidhi) Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission 3,422 15,145

(Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) 1,276 5,367 Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme 16 156

(IGNDPS) Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme 67 895

(IGNWPS) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) 32 269 Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) 5 1 Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) 1,455 6,771 Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) 5,430 23,361 Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana 7,317 66 (AB-PMJAY) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) 1,595 7,629 Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandna Yojana (PMMVY) 79 2 *****