Lok Sabha Question No. 2208 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-02
Subject: Farm and Non-farm Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: S. Venkatesan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2208 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2021

## FARM AND NON-FARM LABOURERS

2208. SHRI S. VENKATESAN:

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

- (a)the details of the number of farm labourers and non-farm labourers in rural India from 2014-15 to 2020- 21;
- (b)the  details  of  the  number  of  farm  labourers  switched  to  non-farm activities in rural India from 2014- 15 to 2020-21;
- (c)the details of the schemes implemented for the farm and non- farm labourers in rural India; and
- (d)the details of the amount allocated and actually spent on the above
- schemes from 2014-15 to 2020-21?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): According to Economic Survey 2019-20, there are estimated 38  crore  unorganized  workers  in  the  country.  These  include  farm labourers  and  non-farm  labourers.  The  Percentage  distribution  of workers in usual status by broad category such as farm (Agriculture), mining  and  quarrying,  manufacturing,  electricity,  water,  construction trade,  hotel  &  restaurant,  transport,  storage  &  communications  and other  services  during  Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS)  2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 is given at Annexure A.

Contd..2/-

The  Unorganized  Workers'  Social  Security  (UWSS)  Act,  2008 mandates the Central Government to provide Social Security to all the Unorganized workers including farm labourers and non-farm labourers by formulating suitable welfare schemes on the matters relating to: (i) life and disability cover, (ii) health and maternity benefits, (iii) old age protection  and  (iv)  any  other  benefits  as  may  be  determined  by  the Central  Government.  Subsequently  the  UWSS  Act,  2008  has  been subsumed in the Code on Social Security, 2020. The State Governments  are  also  empowered  to  formulate  suitable  welfare schemes on the matters regarding housing, provident funds, educational  schemes,  skill  upgradation,  old  age  homes  etc.    The details  of  the  scheme  that  are  being  implemented  by  the  Central Government for the unorganized Workers including farm and non farm labourers are detailed at Annexure B.

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## Annexure A

ANNEXURE REFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UN-STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2208  FOR  02.08.2021  REGARDING  'FARM AND NON-FARM LABOURERS' RASIED BY SHRI S. VENKATESAN.

ANNEXURE REFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UN-STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2208  FOR  02.08.2021  REGARDING  'FARM AND NON-FARM LABOURERS' RASIED BY SHRI S. VENKATESAN.

The  scheme  that  are  being  implemented  by  the  Central  Government  for  the unorganized Workers including farm and non-farm labourers.

(i) In order to provide old age protection to the unorganised sector workers, the Government of India has launched flagship scheme namely Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana (PM-SYM) in March, 2019 to provide monthly minimum assured pension of Rs.3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years. It is voluntary and contributory pension scheme. The workers in the age group of 1840  years  whose  monthly  income  is  Rs.15000/-  or  less  can  join  the  pension scheme.  Under  the  scheme,  50%  monthly  contribution  is  payable  by  the beneficiary and equal matching contribution is paid by the Central Government. The  numbers of beneficiaries as on 27.07.2021 under PMSYM  scheme is over 45 Lakh.

(ii) 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 the scheme are Rs. 2 lakh on death due to any reason and permanent disability, Rs 4 lakh on death due to accident and Rs. 1 lakh on partial disability depending upon the eligibility.  The annual premium is Rs. 342/-  (Rs. 330/- for  PMJJBY + Rs. 12/- for PMSBY) depending upon their eligibility.

(iii) The  health  and  maternity  benefits  are  addressed  through  Ayushman Bharat Scheme which is a universal health scheme.  Under the scheme, Rs. 5 lakh health coverage per family is provided for secondary and tertiary treatments free  of  cost.   The  beneficiary  families  under  Ayushman  Bharat  scheme  have been identified on caste based economic census.

(iv) Collateral free lending is   being provided  to 63  lakhs Self Help Groups (SHGs)  women members to develop entrepreneurial spirit.

(v) The  Building  and  Other  Construction  Workers'  Welfare  Cess  Act,  1996, provides levy and collection of cess at such rate not exceeding two per cent but not less than one per cent of the cost of construction. The cess at the rate of 1% has been levied and being collected by the State Governments/Union Territory

Administrations and utilized for the welfare of the building and other construction workers. The State Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Boards are also  implementing  various  schemes  related  to  health,  sickness,  educational assistance, etc for the Building workers.

(vi) Under  Mahatma Gandhi National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme (MGNREGS),   the farm  and  non  farm  labourers  are  being  provided  minimum 100 days employment guarantee scheme  on demand.  Recently, Government has also increased their wage  from Rs. 182.00 to Rs. 202.00 per day.

(vii) Government under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan (PMGKRA), has taken  various  initiatives  to  boost  rural  infrastructure  and  rural economy  to  provide  local  employment  opportunities  particularly  to  the  migrant returnees.  PMGKRA  covered  116  districts  of  6  States  in  a  mission  mode campaign of 125 days.

(viii) Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment  administers  Welfare  Funds  for  the Welfare of (i) Beedi (ii) Cine,  Iron  Ore/Mangenese  Ore/Chrome  Ore  (iii) Limestone  and  Dolomite  Mine  Workers.  Besides  this,    a  revamped  housing scheme (Revised Integrated Housing Scheme, 2016) has been introduced with a subsidy of Rs. 1,50,000/- per beneficiary household engaged in Beedi/Iron Ore Mines, Manganese Ore & Chrome Ore Mines (IOMC)/Limestone Ore Mines and Cine  industries.  This  scheme  has  now  been  converged  with  Pradhan  Mantri Awas Yojana.

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