Lok Sabha Question No. 1178 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-25
Subject: Rural and Agricultural Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara, Umesh G. Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1178 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.11.2019

## RURAL AND AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS

1178. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

DR. UMESH G. JADHAV:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether  unemployment  has  increased  in  rural  areas  as  against  urban areas and if so, the reasons therefor along with the ratio of unemployment in urban and rural areas of the country;
- (b)whether several welfare schemes have been formulated and implemented for the unorganised workers particularly for rural and agricultural labourers;
- (c)if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  monitoring  mechanism  of  the schemes particularly in case of accidents;
- (d)the details of funds allocated and utilised under the schemes during each of  the  last  three  years  and  the  current year, State/UT-wise and schemewise;
- (e)the  number  of  agricultural  labourers  benefited  by  these  schemes  during the said period State/UT-wise; and
- (f)the steps taken by Government exclusively for the welfare of agricultural labourers in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a): As per  Annual Report (July 2017-June 2018) on Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Unemployment rate (UR) in rural and urban areas is as below:-

|                        | Rural Areas   | Rural Areas   | Urban Areas   | Urban Areas   |
|------------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| PLFS (2017-18)         | Men           | Women         | Men           | Women         |
| Unemployment rate (UR) | 5.8           | 3.8           | 7.1           | 10.8          |

(b) to (f): In order to provide social security benefits to the workers in the unorganised sector including rural and agricultural labourers, the Government  has  enacted  the  Unorganised  Workers'  Social  Security  Act, 2008.  This  Act  stipulates  formulation  of  suitable  welfare  schemes  for unorganised workers on matters relating to: (i) life and disability cover, (ii) health  and  maternity  benefits,  (iii)  old  age  protection  and  (iv)  any  other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government. Life and disability cover is provided through Pradhan  Mantri Jeevan  Jyoti  Bima  Yojana (PMJJBY)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Suraksha  Bima  Yojana  (PMSBY)  to  the unorganised  workers  depending  upon  their  eligibility.  Government  of  India and State Governments pay the annual premium in equal share. The health and maternity benefits are addressed through Ayushman Bharat scheme. For old age protection in the form of monthly pension, Government of India has recently  launched Pradhan  Mantri  Shram  Yogi  Maan-dhan  (PM-SYM).  Under the scheme, minimum assured monthly pension of Rs.3000/- will be provided to the unorganised workers after attaining the age of 60 years. Prescribed monthly  contribution  is  payable  by  the  beneficiary  and  equal  matching contribution is paid by the Central Government. Every welfare scheme has its separate monitoring mechanism.

Funds  under  PMJJBY/PMSBY  and  PM-SYM  are  not  allocated  to the  State/UT  governments,  for  implementation.    However,  the  expenditure incurred  on  Social  Security  Scheme  of  PMJJBY/PMSBY  from  the  Social Security Fund maintained by LIC, during last three years towards providing insurance cover is as under:

| Year    |   Expenditure (Cr.) |
|---------|---------------------|
| 2016-17 |              385.34 |
| 2017-18 |              435.16 |
| 2018-19 |              587.52 |

The  budget  and  expenditure  details  for  the  PM-SYM  scheme  is  as under:

| Scheme   | 2018-19   | 2018-19     | 2019-20 (as on 22.11.2019)   | 2019-20 (as on 22.11.2019)   |
|----------|-----------|-------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
|          | BE/RE     | Expenditure | BE                           | Expenditure                  |
| PMSYM    | 0/50      | 49.49       | 500                          | 171.28                       |

Note: BE/RE - Budget Estimates /Revised Estimates.

The  beneficiaries  under  the  welfare  schemes  are  not  bifurcated  as category-wise.  The welfare measures are formulated for the benefit of all unorganised workers, including agricultural labourers.

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