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Sameer

Sameer

Massage Therapist

IndiaHindi (हिंदी)₹ INR

Sameer is a hardworking massage therapist who travels between clients' homes and works in small wellness clinics. He needs to manage his own social security, health emergencies, and business tools while navigating the informal economy.

National — applies everywhere in India

Planning for my future

Since I don't have a corporate provident fund, these are my only ways to save for when I can't work anymore.

e-Shram Portal

ई-श्रम

national · Ministry of Labour and Employment

Who qualifies
Unorganized workers aged 16-59.
What you get
Accidental death/disability insurance cover of up to ₹2 Lakh.
What it actually costs you
Free; Aadhaar and bank account required.
Common gotcha
It is not a direct cash transfer scheme, but a database for social security access.

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan

प्रधानमंत्री श्रम योगी मान-धन

national · Ministry of Labour and Employment

Who qualifies
Unorganized workers with income below ₹15,000/month.
What you get
Guaranteed monthly pension of ₹3,000 after age 60.
What it actually costs you
Monthly contribution between ₹55-₹200 depending on age.
Common gotcha
You cannot withdraw the money early; it is strictly for retirement.

Atal Pension Yojana

अटल पेंशन योजना

national · PFRDA

Who qualifies
Any Indian citizen aged 18-40 with a bank account.
What you get
Fixed monthly pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 after age 60.
What it actually costs you
Auto-debit from bank account; amount depends on chosen pension slab.
Common gotcha
If you miss a monthly payment, a penalty is charged on the account.

National Pension System (NPS) Lite

राष्ट्रीय पेंशन प्रणाली

national · PFRDA

Who qualifies
Economically disadvantaged citizens.
What you get
Market-linked pension corpus.
What it actually costs you
Low annual maintenance charges.
Common gotcha
Returns are not guaranteed like the Maan-dhan scheme.

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana

प्रधानमंत्री सुरक्षा बीमा योजना

national · Department of Financial Services

Who qualifies
Savings bank account holders aged 18-70.
What you get
₹2 Lakh for accidental death/disability.
What it actually costs you
₹20 per year deducted from bank account.
Common gotcha
Must renew every year in June.

Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana

प्रधानमंत्री जीवन ज्योति बीमा योजना

national · Department of Financial Services

Who qualifies
Savings bank account holders aged 18-50.
What you get
Life insurance cover of ₹2 Lakh.
What it actually costs you
₹436 per year.
Common gotcha
Only covers death, not disability or medical expenses.

Staying healthy to keep working

My hands and back are my livelihood; I need affordable care if I get injured or sick.

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY

आयुष्मान भारत

national · National Health Authority

Who qualifies
Families identified in SECC 2011 data or state-specific criteria.
What you get
₹5 Lakh annual health cover for secondary/tertiary hospitalization.
What it actually costs you
Free at empanelled hospitals; need Ayushman card.
Common gotcha
Covers hospitalization only, not outpatient clinic visits or medicines.

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana

जन औषधि केंद्र

national · Department of Pharmaceuticals

Who qualifies
All citizens.
What you get
Generic medicines at 50-90% lower prices than branded ones.
What it actually costs you
Just the cost of medicine; no card required.
Common gotcha
Doctors often prescribe branded names; you must ask for generic equivalents.

ESIC (Employee State Insurance)

कर्मचारी राज्य बीमा

national · ESIC Corporation

Who qualifies
Employees in registered establishments earning under ₹21,000.
What you get
Full medical care, sickness benefits, and maternity benefits.
What it actually costs you
Small percentage of salary deducted.
Common gotcha
Only works if your employer is registered with ESIC.

Health and Wellness Centres

स्वास्थ्य एवं कल्याण केंद्र

national · Ministry of Health

Who qualifies
All citizens.
What you get
Free primary healthcare, screening for non-communicable diseases.
What it actually costs you
Free.
Common gotcha
Often crowded; best for routine checkups, not emergencies.

ABHA Health ID

आभा आईडी

national · National Health Authority

Who qualifies
All citizens.
What you get
Digital storage of all medical records and prescriptions.
What it actually costs you
Free; requires Aadhaar/Phone number.
Common gotcha
Not all private clinics are integrated yet.

Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi

राष्ट्रीय आरोग्य निधि

national · Ministry of Health

Who qualifies
BPL patients for life-threatening diseases.
What you get
One-time financial assistance for treatment at government hospitals.
What it actually costs you
Application process through hospital.
Common gotcha
Strict income verification required.

Keeping my papers in order

Without these, I can't open a bank account, get a SIM card, or apply for any government benefits.

Aadhaar

आधार

national · UIDAI

Who qualifies
All residents.
What you get
Universal identity proof.
What it actually costs you
Free for enrollment; small fee for updates.
Common gotcha
Ensure your mobile number is linked to receive OTPs.

PAN Card

पैन कार्ड

national · Income Tax Department

Who qualifies
All citizens.
What you get
Tax identity and financial transaction proof.
What it actually costs you
Approx ₹66 for application.
Common gotcha
Must link with Aadhaar to avoid penalty.

DigiLocker

डिजिलॉकर

national · MeitY

Who qualifies
All citizens.
What you get
Digital repository for all official documents.
What it actually costs you
Free.
Common gotcha
Documents are legally equivalent to originals, but some officials still ask for paper.

Voter ID (EPIC)

वोटर आईडी

national · Election Commission of India

Who qualifies
Citizens aged 18+.
What you get
Right to vote and valid address proof.
What it actually costs you
Free.
Common gotcha
Name must match exactly on all documents.

One Nation One Ration Card

वन नेशन वन राशन कार्ड

national · Department of Food and Public Distribution

Who qualifies
Eligible households under NFSA.
What you get
Subsidized food grains anywhere in India.
What it actually costs you
Free.
Common gotcha
Requires biometric authentication at the shop.

Passport Seva

पासपोर्ट सेवा

national · Ministry of External Affairs

Who qualifies
Citizens.
What you get
International travel identity.
What it actually costs you
₹1,500 for standard application.
Common gotcha
Police verification is mandatory.

Improving my craft

I want to learn advanced massage techniques or physiotherapy basics to charge more per session.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana

प्रधानमंत्री कौशल विकास योजना

national · Ministry of Skill Development

Who qualifies
Youth and workers seeking skill training.
What you get
Short-term skill training and certification.
What it actually costs you
Free; government-funded.
Common gotcha
Training centers vary in quality; check reviews.

Skill India Digital

स्किल इंडिया डिजिटल

national · MSDE

Who qualifies
All citizens.
What you get
Online courses and job matching.
What it actually costs you
Free.
Common gotcha
Requires stable internet.

SWAYAM

स्वयं

national · Ministry of Education

Who qualifies
Anyone interested in learning.
What you get
Free access to high-quality academic courses.
What it actually costs you
Free; fee only if you want a certificate.
Common gotcha
Very academic; might not have practical massage training.

NSDC Training Partners

एनएसडीसी

national · National Skill Development Corporation

Who qualifies
Workers seeking vocational training.
What you get
Industry-recognized certification.
What it actually costs you
Varies by course.
Common gotcha
Look for 'NSDC approved' logos.

National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme

राष्ट्रीय शिक्षुता प्रोत्साहन योजना

national · MSDE

Who qualifies
Candidates aged 14+.
What you get
On-the-job training with a stipend.
What it actually costs you
Time commitment.
Common gotcha
Hard to find massage-specific apprenticeships.

Udyam Registration

उद्यम पंजीकरण

national · Ministry of MSME

Who qualifies
Small business owners.
What you get
Access to priority sector lending and business benefits.
What it actually costs you
Free.
Common gotcha
Only for registered businesses, not individuals.