Polsara: The Centre has formed a national database for unorganised workers to ensure the welfare of crores of people, a report said.
People in Ganjam district are queuing up to register their names on the e-shram portal after rumour spread that they will not be able to register themselves in the portal once the target is achieved.
Reports said registered workers under the e-shram portal will be enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and premium for the first year will be borne by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India.
This apart, the portal will provide a host of other benefits. This has happened as the computer centres and Jan Seva Kendras are preparing the cards at nights as the server often remains down during day.
As a result, people are quieting up outside these centres at night to apply for the e-shram cards.
The craze for an e-shram card has swayed the residents so much so that they are queuing up outside various computer centres, Jan Seva Kendras and online kiosks to register their names in the portal.
They are queuing up in hordes without being aware of the benefits of the e-shram cards or where to apply if they face problems.
The Aadhaar card correction centres are also witnessing large crowds as many of the applicants have failed to register for e-shram cards as their mobile numbers are not seeded with Aadhaar cards.
The large crowds have also sparked fear of spread of Covid-19 in the area. People were found neglecting basic safety norms and putting their life in danger while rushing to register their names for the eshram cards or seed their phone numbers in the Aadhaar cards.
Recently, a woman of Baghadi village was crushed to death by a speeding passenger bus when she was on her way to the Utkal Gramya Bank on the other side of the road.
Taking advantage of the desperation of people, various computer centres are charging anything between Rs 50 and Rs 300 from each applicant to register names.
An applicant is not required to deposit any fee while applying online for an e-shram card. However, the huge rush is providing an opportunity to the online centres to fleece the applicants.
When contacted, Suranjan Sahu, block development officer, Polsara refused to comment on the issue as his office has not received any directive from the government to register people for e-shram cards.
Residents have demanded a separate office in every block for registration of names for the e-shram cards.
PNN
