Parliament Question: Delay in Release the Funds for Labour Welfare

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1447 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 DELAY IN RELEASE THE FUNDS FOR LABOUR WELFARE 1447. DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN: Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state: (a)whether it is a fact that centrally sponsored schemes for labour welfare, applicable to unorganised workers in Tamil Nadu have been delayed during 2025–26, despite continuing their implementation by the State and if so, the reasons therefor; (b)whether such delays overlap with arrears and uncertainties arising from proposed changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee framework, affecting overall labour welfare outlays and if so, the details thereof; (c)whether the Government has reviewed the impact of delayed central assistance on the functioning of Tamil Nadu’s labour welfare boards, employment exchanges and worker support mechanisms and if so, the details thereof; (d)the details of the funds sanctioned and actually released to Tamil Nadu under labour and employment schemes during 2024–25 and 2025–26, scheme-wise; and (e)the details of the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for timely fund flow to Tamil Nadu so that benefits to workers are not disrupted due to inter-governmental delays? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE) (a) to (e): ‘Labour’ is a subject in the Concurrent list in the Constitution of India and the Central Government supplements the efforts of all the States including Tamil Nadu for the welfare of Labourers. The schemes of Ministry of Labour and Employment are Central Sector schemes and are implemented on a pan India basis and fully funded by the Central Government. Separate State-wise allocation are not made for these schemes. Contd..2/-:: 2 :: Major welfare and social security schemes being implemented are (i) Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PMSYM), a voluntary contributory scheme with matching contribution by Government of India for old age pension; (ii) Labour Welfare Scheme (LWS) for welfare of Beedi / Cine / Non-Coal Mine workers and their family members covering three components viz. Health, Scholarship and Housing; (iii) National Career Service (NCS) for establishment of Model Career Centres (MCCs); (iv) Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995 implemented through EPFO; (v) Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers for identification and rehabilitation of bonded labourers; (vi) Health services through Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC); and (vii) Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY). There has been no delay in implementation and release of funds under these schemes. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) under Ministry of Rural Development is a demand-driven wage employment scheme and funds are released to the States / UTs based on the "agreed to" Labour Budget (LB) and performance of the States / UTs during the financial year. Fund release to States / UTs is a continuous process, and the Central Government is committed to making funds available, keeping in view the demand for work on the ground. Release to the State of Tamil Nadu under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS for the FY 2024-25 & 2025-26 (as on 29.01.2026) is as under: Financial Year Total Release (In Crores) 2024-25 7585.49 2025-26 (as on 6860.48 29.01.2026) The Ministry administers the Code on Social Security, 2020 and Occupation Safety, Health & Working Condition Code, 2020 for Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW). The State Governments are mandated to collect the Cess and its utilization to provide social security and safety to building and other construction workers viz. death and disability cover, pension, insurance, health and maternity cover, financial assistance for education of wards of the registered Building and Other Construction Workers, transit housing, skill development, awareness programmes etc. Contd..3/-:: 3 :: Further, the eShram portal (www.eshram.gov.in) allows unorganized workers to register on the portal on self-declaration basis. The main objective of the e-Shram portal is to create a National Database of Unorganized Workers, seeded with Aadhaar, and to facilitate delivery under existing social security and welfare schemes to such workers. As on 31.12.2025, over 31.44 Crore unorganized workers have registered on eShram portal including 95.36 Lakh in the State of Tamil Nadu. The details of the registered unorganised workers under e-Shram who have benefited from various welfare schemes in Tamil Nadu is Annexed. The implementation of the schemes such as awareness and mobilization of beneficiaries are addressed with support of State and local authorities including those in Tamil Nadu by organizing awareness camps, facilitating enrolment etc. * *****Annexure ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1447 FOR ANSWER ON 09.02.2026 REGARDING “DELAY IN RELEASE THE FUNDS FOR LABOUR WELFARE” The details of the registered unorganised workers under e-Shram, who have benefited from various welfare schemes in Tamil Nadu are as under: Sl. Number of Name of the Scheme No. Enrollments 1 One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) 61,16,220 2 Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB- 45,83,677 PMJAY) 3 Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) 19,36,328 4 Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission 35,23,931 (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) 5 Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) 5,48,188 6 Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) 6,14,956 7 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G) 2,07,551 8 Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PMSVANidhi) 86,608 9 Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandna Yojana (PMMVY) 41,979 10 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U) 45,014 11 Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) 57,261 12 Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) 7,351 13 Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) 1,649 *****