PM-JAY provides a cover of Rs 5 lakh per beneficiary family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across public and private empanelled hospitals in India.

• Apart from PMJAY benefits, government will also issue identity cards and streamline e-Shram registration for Gig Workers.

About Gig Workers

• According to Code on Social Security, 2020, a gig worker is a person who performs work or participates in work arrangements and earns from such activities, outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship.
• According to Niti Aayog, 7.7 million workers are engaged in gig economy (2020–21), which is expected to expand to 2.35 crore by 2029–30.

Challenges faced by Gig workers

• Issues of Accessibility: Gig economy is restricted by access to internet and digital technology, making it an urban-centric phenomenon.
• Job and Income Insecurity: Platform workers in India are often paid per task and labeled as independent contractors, denying them labor rights like minimum wages, working hours etc.
• Lack of social Protection: Lack safeguards such as Health Insurance, Employees Provident Fund etc.
• Algorithmic management: Workers face stress due to pressures resulting from algorithmic management practices and performance evaluation on the basis of ratings.