In a significant move towards improving data governance and management, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has highlighted the urgent need for a centralized system to track Indian citizens working and studying abroad. During a high-level meeting focused on employment data and overseas emigration, the Minister, along with Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje, emphasized the importance of having complete and accurate data on these individuals.
The meeting explored the potential of integrating various existing platforms, including the National Career Service (NCS), MYBharat, MADAD, eMigrate, eShram, and state portals, to create a unified system for employment data. Mandaviya also stressed the pivotal role of industry associations in collating employment data, urging them to actively participate in this crucial effort.
The discussion highlighted the significance of NITI Aayog as an umbrella organization to facilitate the compilation of employment-related data from various ministries. The meeting also underscored the importance of standardizing contracts with foreign employers and reviewing existing migration and mobility partnership arrangements (MMPAs) and social security agreements (SSAs) to ensure their effectiveness in protecting Indian workers abroad.
NITI Aayog officials shared insights from various studies on employment portals in India, emphasizing the need for a unified platform to integrate employment data across government schemes and sectors. This unified platform, they believe, will be instrumental in driving policy and job creation initiatives.
The meeting concluded with a strong commitment to strengthen employment data coordination, expand overseas job opportunities, and ensure the security of Indian workers abroad. The proposed unified employment data portal will serve as a transformative tool in centralizing employment data, while the integration of eMigrate and NCS will broaden access to international job markets.
The government aims to improve data governance and management by utilizing existing sectoral databases, including those developed under the Digital India mission, and employing advanced technological tools to streamline and optimize data and statistics handling. The Centre also plans to digitize land records in urban areas with GIS mapping, a move that will further enhance data accessibility and accuracy.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her budget speech in July, emphasized the government’s commitment to improving data collection and quality, stating, “For improving data governance, collection, processing and management of data and statistics, different sectoral databases including those established under the Digital India mission, will be utilized with active use of technology tools.” This initiative underscores the government’s dedication to harnessing the power of data to drive economic growth and improve the lives of Indian citizens both domestically and abroad.
