How PM Gati Shakti is Empowering Workers in India

Why in news?

• Recognizing this need, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has taken a significant step by joining the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, aiming to strengthen social security measures for workers.
• India’s economic landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation, with industrial hubs and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) flourishing across the country.
• While this growth brings prosperity, it also presents challenges in ensuring the well-being of the workforce within these zones.

PM Gati Shakti: A Platform for Integrated Infrastructure Development

• Launched in 2021, the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is a game-changer for India’s infrastructure development.
• This ambitious project utilizes a GIS-based platform that brings together planned and ongoing infrastructure projects across various sectors like railways, roads, shipping, and aviation.
• The primary objective of PM Gati Shakti is to streamline project planning and execution, eliminate delays, and ultimately boost economic growth by facilitating seamless movement of people and goods.

Bridging the Gap: Social Security in Industrial Zones

• The Ministry of Labour and Employment’s integration with PM Gati Shakti marks a crucial step towards social security inclusion for workers in industrial areas and SEZs.
• These zones often face a unique gap in social security coverage, leaving a significant portion of the workforce vulnerable. Here’s how the collaboration empowers workers:
  • Data-Driven Approach: The ministry has initiated geotagging of buildings under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) and the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). This includes over 1.3 million buildings under EPFO and 1.5 million buildings under ESIC, encompassing 104 ESIC hospitals. This geotagging data provides valuable insights into existing service coverage and identifies areas with inadequate social security infrastructure.
  • Expanding Coverage in SEZs: The PM Gati Shakti platform offers a strategic opportunity to integrate the 268 SEZs spread across India. This integration will facilitate the inclusion of workers in these zones within social security programs. By extending this safety net, the government aims to provide broader coverage and essential benefits to a vast segment of the workforce.
  • Holistic Integration: The government envisions expanding the PM Gati Shakti portal to encompass a wider range of programs in the future. This includes National Career Service centers with a focus on services for people with disabilities. Integrating such programs ensures inclusive growth and caters to the needs of vulnerable groups.
  • Addressing Pensioner Issues: One critical benefit of this project is streamlining the process for senior citizens submitting digital life certificates. Utilizing geotagging technology to locate pensioners, the ministry plans to create concentration maps on the PM Gati Shakti platform. This information will empower medical bodies like ESIC to better target their services and provide improved healthcare access to pensioners.

The Road Ahead: A Sustainable Future for Workers

• The Ministry of Labour and Employment’s collaboration with PM Gati Shakti holds immense promise for India’s workforce.
• By leveraging data and technology, the project aims to create a robust social security network that empowers workers, fosters a more inclusive work environment, and paves the way for sustainable economic growth.
• Integrating social security within infrastructure planning demonstrates the government’s commitment to building a future where economic prosperity is coupled with social well-being for all.
• This initiative not only addresses the immediate needs of workers in industrial zones and SEZs but also sets a precedent for responsible and inclusive development. As India continues on its economic journey, PM Gati Shakti, with its focus on social security integration, serves as a vital tool for building a stronger and more equitable future for its workforce.

People also ask

Q1: What is PM Gati Shakti and how does it relate to infrastructure development?
Ans: PM Gati Shakti is a national master plan launched by the Indian government. It utilizes a GIS-based platform to bring together planned and ongoing infrastructure projects across various sectors like railways, roads, shipping, and aviation. The goal is to ensure coordinated project planning and execution, minimize delays, and boost economic growth by facilitating the movement of people and goods.

Q2: Why is the Ministry of Labour and Employment joining the PM Gati Shakti platform?
Ans: The Ministry aims to leverage PM Gati Shakti to strengthen social security measures for workers in industrial areas and Special Economic Zones (SEZs). These zones often lack adequate social security coverage, leaving a significant portion of the workforce vulnerable.

Q3: What are the long-term benefits of this collaboration?
Ans: This initiative aims to create a robust social security network for workers, fostering a more inclusive work environment and paving the way for sustainable economic growth. It sets a precedent for responsible development, ensuring economic prosperity goes hand-in-hand with social well-being.