The Government of Gujarat has launched a web portal and a mobile application to facilitate online registration of workers from the unorganized sector by giving them smart cards for availing various welfare schemes.

Chief minister Vijay Rupani has given a befitting reply to his critics that the state government under his leadership does not just act smartly but even in adverse circumstances works systematically in a well-planned manner. Even during the Tauktae cyclone, his government set an example of good governance.  

The e-Nirman and UWIN (Unorganized Workers' Identification Number) portal with its mobile app was launched by Rupani last week. Around 9.20 lakh workers from the unorganized sector were already registered and given UWIN cards in the state.

UWIN is a unique number which is to be issued as the proof of identity to unorganized workers in Gujarat state. So far, workers were required to visit any of the designated offices in 33 districts to get themselves registered. In the process, they had to forgo their day’s work. Therefore, the state government decided to launch this online platform. Workers now have the option to either use these online platforms or visit a common service centre (CSC) to get themselves registered. There are over 21,000 CSCs authorized to carry out the registration work and issue the smart cards.

Workers having the UWIN cards are entitled to get benefits of several government schemes, such as insurance, Ma Amrutam scheme for hospitalisation, and affordable meals under the Shramik Annapurna Yojna.

With the e-Nirman portal and mobile App, the government can monitor a worker's data in real time and it will be directly linked to the CM Dashboard application.

The state government has initiated the scheme to issue UWIN Smart ID card under the ‘Shram Shakti Pahechan’ for unorganized section of the state to provide the facility to avail all the government schemes. It is mandated that every worker shall be registered and issued a smart ID card.

Besides these two initiatives, the state government also provides employment under the NREGA scheme. With the Covid pandemic and lockdown, a number of workers who returned from other states have found work through NREGA.

The Rupani government’s achievements in key sectors draw attention of all. Gujarat has received a total FDI of USD 30.23 billion in 2020-21. For the fourth consecutive year, Gujarat has retained the top position in the country, with 37 percent share in the country’s FDI.

Gujarat is top in water management among all the states. Recently, under the National Jal Jeevan Mission, the central government has released Rs 852.65 crore to Gujarat as the first installment. For 2021-22, Rs 3,411 crore has been allocated to Gujarat under the Jal Jeevan Mission. There is a plan to connect 10 lakh households with Nal Se Jal Yojana by March 2022.

Gujarat is leading in the solar energy sector with its rooftop scheme and solar-wind parks. After the success of the solar policy of 2015, many new clauses have been added in it. In the new policy, solar energy is to be promoted to make it widely useful in the industry, which will reduce the product cost of the industries and increase the production, which will result in increasing the demand for Made in Gujarat goods.
      
Nilesh Shukla is Joint Director of Information, Government of Gujarat, Gujarat Bhawan, New Delhi.