Lok Sabha Question No. 3397 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-09
Subject: Agricultural Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Nihal Chand Chauhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3397 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2019

## AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS

†3397. SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

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

- (a)whether  the  Union  Government  has  made  any  assessment  in respect of agricultural labourers in the country;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether on the basis of this assessment it has been ascertained if the  labourers  dependent  on  agriculture  get  employment  for  the whole of the year;
- (d)if so, the number of such labourers, State/UT-wise;
- (e)whether  any  action  has  been  taken  by  the  Union  Government  to provide  whole  time  employment  to the  farmers  or  the  agricultural labourers; and
- (f)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (f): In order to provide social security benefits to the workers in the unorganised sector, including agricultural labourers, as per their eligibility,  Government  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. The health and maternity benefits are addressed through Ayushman Bharat scheme.

For  old  age  protection  in  the  form  of  monthly  pension, Ministry of Labour & Employment has launched Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi  Maan-Dhan  Yojana  launched  on  05 th   March,  2019  which  is  a voluntary  and  contributory  pension  scheme  for  providing  monthly minimum  assured  pension  of  Rs.  3,000/-  on  attaining  the  age  of  60 years. The unorganised workers in the age group of 18-40 years whose monthly  income  is        Rs.  15,000/-  or  less  and  not  a  member  of EPFO/ESIC/NPS can join the scheme. Under the scheme, 50% monthly contribution is payable by the beneficiary and equal matching contribution is paid by the Central Government.

Further, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee  Act (Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGA),  2005  provide  for the enhancement of livelihood security of the households in rural areas of the  country  by  providing  at  least  one  hundred  days  of  guaranteed wage employment  in  every  financial  year  to  every  household  whose adult  members  volunteer  to  do  unskilled  manual  work.  Mahatma Gandhi  NREGS  is  a  demand  driven  wage  employment  programme.  It provides livelihood security i.e., fall back option for livelihood for the rural households when no better employment opportunity is available. The demand for work is influenced by various factors such as rain-fall, availability of alternative and remunerative employment opportunities outside Mahatma Gandhi NREGS.

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