India, Feb. 1 -- Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced that the government will formally register gig workers and facilitate their access to healthcare.

While presenting the budget in Lok Sabha, the finance minister said that gig workers will be issued identity cards and added to a national registry, ensuring their inclusion in welfare schemes.

"Gig workers on online platforms bring significant dynamism to the new-age services economy. Acknowledging their contribution, our government will provide them with identity cards and register them on the e-Shram portal. They will also receive healthcare under the PM Jan Arogya Yojana. This initiative is expected to benefit nearly 1 crore gig workers," said Nirmala Sitha...