Lok Sabha Question No. 748 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-07
Subject: Welfare of Agricultural Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Jyotirmay Singh Mahato, Dileshwar Kamait, Geeta Kora

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 748 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2022

## WELFARE OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS

## †748. SHRI JYOTIRMAY SINGH MAHATO:

SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

SHRIMATI GEETA KORA:

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

- (a)the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  welfare  of  agricultural labourers in the country, if so, the number of agricultural labourers who benefited from the schemes in Purulia of West Bengal, Supaul of Bihar
- and Jharkhand;
- (b)the details of the  welfare  schemes  run  by  the  Government  for unorganized workers especially for rural and agricultural workers; and
- (c)the  details  of  funds  allocated  to  West  Bengal,  Bihar  and  Jharkhand under  these  schemes  in  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year,
- scheme-wise and District-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) to (c): As per the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008, the Government is mandated to provide Social Security to  the    workers    of unorganised sector including agricultural labourers by formulating suitable welfare schemes on matters relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection etc. The details of the social security schemes are as follow:

Contd..2/-

- (i)  Life  and  disability  cover  is  provided  through  Pradhan  Mantri  Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Surksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) launched in 2015. The Benefits under these schemes are Rs. 2 lakh on death due to any reason or permanent disability, Rs. 2.00 lakh on  death  due  to  accident  and  Rs.  1  lakh  on  Partial  disability  on  an annual premium of Rs. 330/- and Rs. 12/- respectively.

The number of persons enrolled under PMJJBY/PMSBY schemes in the state of Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand are as under:

| State       | PMJJBY    | PMSBY       |
|-------------|-----------|-------------|
| Bihar       | 42,85,468 | 1,39,69,196 |
| West Bengal | 42,96,384 | 1,49,77,930 |
| Jharkhand   | 18,86,299 | 58,90,405   |

- (ii)  The  health  and  maternity  benefits  are  ensured  through  Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) under deprivation  and  occupational  criteria.  It  provides  health  insurance coverage upto Rs.5.00 lakhs per family for secondary and tertiary care related hospitalization. The Grant-in-aids released to the Bihar, Jharkhand  and  West  Bengal  for  implementation  of  the  AB-PMJAY during last three years is as under:

(Rs. in crores)

| State       |   FY 2018-19 to2020-21 |   FY 2021-22 |   Total |
|-------------|------------------------|--------------|---------|
| Bihar       |                 170.76 |        55.95 |  226.71 |
| Jharkhand   |                 396.99 |         7.98 |  404.97 |
| West Bengal |                  31.28 |         0    |   31.28 |

AB-PMJAY  was  implemented  in  West  Bengal  till  10th  January  2019, following  which  the  State  government  decided  to  withdraw  from  the implementation of the scheme.

As on 03.02.2022, a total of 1.69 lakh and 92.7 lakh individuals have been issued Ayushman Cards in Supaul district of Bihar and in the State of Jharkhand respectively.

- (iii)  In  order  to  provide  old  age  protection,  the  Government  of  India launched  Pradhan  Mantri  Shram  Yogi  Maan-Dhan  (PM-SYM)  pension yojana in 2019. It  provides    monthly   minimum   assured

pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years. The workers in the age group of 18-40 years whose monthly income is Rs. 15000/or less can join the PM-SYM Scheme. Under this scheme 50% monthly contribution is payable by the beneficiary and equal  matching contribution  is  paid  by  the  Central  Government.  Under  this  scheme, the fund for Government contribution is released to LIC of India which is  a  designated  Fund  Manager  of  the  scheme.  As  on  28.01.2022,  a total  3473,  4359  and  130571  workers  have  been  enrolled  under  the schemes   in Supaul district of Bihar, Purulia district of West Bengal and in the state of Jharkhand respectively.

******