Lok Sabha Question No. 107 (STARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Rural and Agricultural Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: PARAYAMPARANBIL KUTTAPPAN BIJU, M. B. RAJESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 107 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## RURAL AND AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS

*107. DR. P.K. BIJU: SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

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

- (a)whether  a  number  of  welfare  schemes  have  been  formulated  and implemented for the unorganised workers, particularly for rural and agricultural labourers;
- (b)if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  monitoring  mechanism  of the schemes, particularly in case of accidents;
- (c)the details of funds allocated and utilised under the schemes during each  of  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year,  State/UT  and scheme-wise;
- (d)the  number  of  agricultural  labourers  benefited  by  these  schemes during the said period, State/UT-wise; and
- (e)the other steps taken by the 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) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 107 FOR ANSWER ON 11.02.2019 REGARDING  RURAL  AND  AGRICULTURAL  LABOURERS  BY  DR.  P.K.  BIJU: SHRI M.B. RAJESH. (a) to (e) In order to provide the social security benefits to the workers in the unorganised  sector  including  rural  and  agricultural  labourers,  the  Central Government  is  implementing  Unorganised  Workers'  Social  Security  Act, 2008,  to  provide  welfare  schemes  in  matters  relating  to  life  and  disability cover,  health  and  maternity  benefits,  old  age  protection  and  any  other scheme  as  may  be  determined  by  the  Central  Government.  The  Central Government is implementing Social Security Schemes namely Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (Ministry of Rural Development), National Family  Benefit  Scheme  (Ministry  of  Rural  Development);  Janani  Suraksha Yojana (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare); National Scheme for Welfare of Fishermen and Training and Extension (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries); Converged Aam Admi Bima Yojana (Ministry of Labour and Employment) and Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) for the unorganised workers (including agricultural and rural labourers). The  Central  Government  has  also  converged  the  social  security scheme of Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana (AABY) with Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) to provide life and disability coverage to the unorganised workers depending upon their eligibility. These converged schemes give coverage of Rs.2 lakhs on death at premium of Rs.330/- per annum and coverage of Rs.2 lakhs on accidental death at premium of Rs.12 per annum, besides disability benefits as  per  the  scheme.  The  annual  premium  is  shared  on  50:50  basis  by  the Central  Government  and  the State  Governments.  These  schemes  are implemented and monitored by Life Insurance Corporation of India and the concerned State Governments. In pursuance of the long term national vision to provide the workers in the unorganised  sector  with  various  social  security  benefits for their integration with the organised employment market of the advancing economy of the country, a Pension scheme has been launched in the interim Budget Session of 2019 to provide minimum monthly pension of Rs.3,000 for workers in the unorganised sector after attaining the age of 60 years under the  Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PMSYM) Pension Scheme. This voluntary and periodic contribution based pension system under (PM-SYM) is for  the  unorganised  workers  with  monthly  income  upto  Rs.15,000.  This scheme is to be administered by Ministry of Labour and Employment through Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). It  has  been  the  constant  endeavour  of  the  Central  Government  to extend coverage of the social security schemes to all rural and agricultural labourers as per their eligibility.

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