Sun Feb 02 11:00:02 UTC 2025: ## Budget Extends Healthcare Benefits to 1 Crore Gig Workers

**Bengaluru, India** – India’s Union Budget 2024 has announced a significant expansion of healthcare benefits for gig workers, a rapidly growing sector fueled by the boom in e-commerce and quick commerce. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the government will provide identity cards and registration on the e-Shram portal, alongside healthcare coverage under the PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). This initiative is expected to benefit approximately 10 million gig workers.

While welcomed as a positive step, industry experts expressed a desire for further measures. Sachin Alug, CEO of NLB Services, noted that while healthcare benefits are crucial, a comprehensive social security framework and improved income stability would further strengthen the gig economy. Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of the Retailers Association of India, highlighted the positive impact of gig worker recognition on the omnichannel retail sector.

The announcement follows a recent whitepaper by the Forum for Progressive Gig Workers predicting the gig economy will reach $455 billion by 2024, creating 90 million jobs. Madhav Krishna, CEO and Founder of Vahan.ai, praised the government’s allocation of funds for healthcare under PM-JAY, stating that it’s a commendable step towards formalizing the gig workforce and easing the financial burden on both workers and e-commerce platforms. He also noted the positive impact of government-backed ID cards in formalizing the profession. However, he acknowledged that full compliance may take time.

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