Lok Sabha Question No. 3290 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-01
Subject: Exploitation of Landless Labourers and Land Ownership Rights for Women
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KIRTI (JHA) AZAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3290

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1 ST   JANUARY, 2019

## EXPLOITATION OF LANDLESS LABOURERS AND LAND OWNERSHIP RIGHTS FOR WOMEN

3290.   SHRI KIRTI AZAD:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that  landless farm labourers are at the mercy of big farmers and they are exploited  to  accept  low  wages,  if  so,  the  steps  that  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to institutionalize and rationalize employment and wages of farm labourers on farms, and in villages;
- (b) whether it is true that women workers get far less than men for the same works and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has any scheme to help women get ownership rights of lands owned by their husbands after their death and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) to (c): Under the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, both Central and State Governments are appropriate Governments to fix, review and revise the minimum wages of the workers employed in the scheduled employment under their respective jurisdictions. Rates fixed in the Central sphere  are  applicable  to establishments  under  the  authority of  Central Government, railway administration, mines, oil-fields, major port or any corporation established by  a  Central  Government.  Employment  other  than  the  scheduled  employment  for  central Sphere  come  under  the  purview  of  State  Government  and  accordingly  State  Government wages are applicable in such employments.

Under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the enforcement is secured at two levels. While in the  Central  Sphere  the  enforcement  is  secured  through  the  Inspecting  officers  of  the  Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) commonly designated as Central Industrial Relations Machinery  (CIRM),  the  compliance  in  the  State  Sphere  is ensured  through  the  State Enforcement Machinery. The designated inspecting officers' conduct regular inspections and in the event of detection of any case of non-payment or underpayment of minimum wages, they direct  the  employers  to  make  payment  of  the  shortfall  of  wages.  In  case  of  non-compliance, penal provisions prescribed under Section 22 of the said Act are taken recourse to.

Under  the  provisions  of  the  Minimum  Wages  Act,  1948,  the  wages  fixed  by  the appropriate government are equally payable to both male and female workers and the Act does not discriminate on the basis of gender.

The subject relating to Land and its management falls within the jurisdiction of States as per Entry 18 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution. The role of the Central Government in the field of land reforms is only of an advisory nature.

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