Lok Sabha Question No. 3337 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Eviction of Tenant Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Bellana

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3337

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST  MARCH, 2023

## EVICTION OF TENANT FARMERS

## 3337.  SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government realises that the COVID-19 induced lockdowns witnessed large scale migration from the urban areas to the rural areas leading to the erstwhile absentee landlords  gaining  back  control  of  their  lands  while  providing  for  eviction  of  the  tenant farmers;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  is  taking  some  measures  in  this  regard  to  ensure  the welfare of such farmers;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the details of other measures being taken by the Government to curb such eviction of tenant farmers?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (d): During  COVID-19  pandemic,  the  agriculture  sector  functioned  smoothly, Government of India took all necessary measures to ensure smooth operation of agriculture related  activities.  Farming  and  allied  activities  were  exempted  from  the  lockdown  during COVID-19 period.  As  per  the  first  Advance  Estimate  of  National  Income,  agriculture  and allied  sectors registered a growth of 3.6% during 2020-21. Further, many measures were taken by the Government such as:-
- (i)    From  24.03.2020  to  02.02.2021,  funds  amounting  to  Rs.  62,301.22  crore  were transferred to the Bank Accounts of PM-KISAN beneficiaries.
- (ii)  During the year 2020, under Pradhan Mantra Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna (PMGKAY) -I & II,  about  322  LMT  of  foodgrain  for  the  period  April-November  2020  and  under  Atma Nirbhar Bharat Scheme (ANBS), about 8 LMT foodgrains were allocated free of cost for the period May & June, 2020. In addition to foodgrains, about 14.47 LMT pulses/whole chana were also allocated under PMGKAY-I&II for the period April-November, 2020 and

about  0.27  LMT  whole  chana  was  allocated  under  ANBS  for  the  period  May  -  June, 2020. Allocation of free of cost foodgrains under was done to cater to migrants/stranded migrants without ration card.

During  the  year  2021,  under  PMGKAY-III  &  IV,  about  278  LMT  foodgrains  were allocated free of cost for the period May-November, 2021.

- (iii)  Kisan  Rails  were  operated  for  the  first  time  from  July,  2020  to  facilitate  movement  of perishable Agri-Horticulture commodities.
- (iv)  The  Central  Sector  Scheme  of  financing  facility  under  Agri  Infrastructure  Fund  was launched. The aim was creation of infrastructure at the farm gate.
- (v) The National Bee and Honey Mission (NBHM) - Rs.500 crore from 2020-2021 to 20222023 was allocated for the sector, under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
- (vi)  Concessional  credit  boost  granted  to  2.5  crore  farmers  through  Kisan  Credit  Card. 228.28 lakh Kisan Credit Cards were issued as part of the KCC saturation drive since February 2020 till August 2021.
- (vii) During the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, Government realised the difficulties faces by farmers and extended the date of renewal of the short term agri loan upto 31.08.2020 for Standard Short-Term agri loans upto Rs.3 lakh advanced for agriculture and allied activities by banks, which had become due between 1st March, 2020 and 31 st  August, 2020 with continued benefit of 2% Interest Subvention (IS) to Banks and 3% Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI) to farmers.
- (viii) During  the  second  wave  of  Covid-19  pandemic,  Government  of  India  extended  the benefit  of  ISS  upto  30.06.2021  for  Standard  Short-Term  agri  loans  upto  Rs.3  lakh advanced for agriculture and allied activities by banks, which had become due between 1 st   March, 2021 and 30 th  June, 2021 with continued benefit of 2% Interest Subvention (IS) to Banks and 3% Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI) to farmers.
- (ix)  Steps  were  also  taken  to  ensure  adequate  availability  of  fertilizer.  There  was  close monitoring of movement  and  availability of all the fertilizers through real time coordination  with  State  Governments,  fertilizer  companies  and  various  Ministries including Railways etc. Also, availability of fertilizers in States was ensured through online web based monitoring system called Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (IFMS). From April'20  to  January'21  nearly  2214  additional  Railway  rakes  were  deployed  (as compared to the corresponding period of last year) to timely transport the fertilizers to various corners of the country. Timely import of urea was also ensured so as to ensure sufficient availability across the country.
- (x)  Measures  were  also  taken  to  ensure  adequate  availability  of  seeds  during  lockdown. More than 25 thousand quintals of breeder seed was allocated during Kharif-2020 to

ensure smooth seed production operations. Movement of more than 1 crore packets of cotton seed and 20,000 quintals of seed was done. The validity of Seed Dealers license and import permission was extended till September, 2020.

- (xi)  Government  facilitated  the  farmers  for  timely  harvest  of  the  entire  crop,  resulting  in record procurement of Rabi crop production. Due to various steps taken by Government, sowing Area coverage for Kharif Crops 2020 increased by 5.68%.
- (xii) Several steps were taken to decongest wholesale market and to boost the supply chain like integration of e-NAM with e-NWR, issuance of passes/e-passes to FPOs, launching of  Uberisation  Module  of  logistics  aggregators  for  making  transport  available  to  the farmers for faster movement of farm produce, creation of separate cell in Department for monitoring supply and prices of essential goods and fruits and vegetables. Further, 415 new  mandis  were  integrated  into  e-NAM  platform  during  COVID-19  lockdown  period taking the total number of 1000 e-NAM mandis in the country.
- (xiii) Launching of Kisan Rath Mobile App and Farm Machinery Mobile App.
- (xiv)  Opening  of  shops  of agriculture  machinery,  seeds, fertilizers,  pesticides,  spare parts and repairs was allowed during the lockdown period.
- (xv) One-time ex-gratia payment of Rs. 500 per month for 3 months (April, May and June 2020) to Women Jan Dhan Account holders. Rs. 30,956.97 crore was released to 20.65 crore beneficiaries.
- (xvi) Ex-gratia of Rs. 1000 in two instalments (Rs. 500/- each) to the existing old age, widow and  divyangjan  beneficiaries.  Rs.  2814.50  crore  was  released  towards  282  lakh beneficiaries.
- (xvii) During the initial phase of COVID-19 pandemic and Agri Transport Call Centre (ATCC) (Toll free No. 1800-180-4244) was operated to easily movement of agriculture inputs.
- (xviii)  In  rural  areas,  wages under MGNREGA were enhanced from Rs.182 to Rs.202 per day for the benefit of rural workers including returning migrant workers. During the financial year 2020-21, a total of 1.89 crore new job cards were issued and in the  current  FY  2021-22  (as  on  03.08.2021),  a  total  of 54.8  lakh  job  cards  were issued.  During  the  financial  year  2020-21,  a  total  of  389  crore  person-days  were generated and 142.79 crore person-days were generated in the FY 2021-22 (as on 03.08.2021).  During  the  financial  year  2020-21,  a  total  of  7.55  crore  households were  provided employment  and  in  the Financial Year 2021-22, 4.89 crore households were provided employment. There was an enhanced financial allocation from  Rs.  61,500  crore  at  Budget  Estimate  to  Rs.  1,11,500  crore  at  Revised Estimate in the financial year 2020-21 under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS.
- (xix)  Further,  in  order  to  boost  employment  and  livelihood  opportunities  for  migrant workers, returning to villages, in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, Ministry of Rural Development,  Government  of  India  launched  Garib  Kalyan  Rojgar  Abhiyaan  on 20th June 2020. The Abhiyaan focused on durable rural infrastructure and providing modern  facilities  like  internet  in  the  villages.  Skill  Mapping  of  the  rural  migrant labour was also done to enhance their employability on the basis of the skills they possess, to enable them to work closer to their homes. The Abhiyan generated more than 50,78,68,671 man-days.
- (xx)  For  the  benefit  of  50  lakh  street  vendors  Ministry  of  Housing  &  Urban  Affairs, Government of India launched a scheme 'PM Street Vendor's Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi)' to provide them collateral free working capital loan upto Rs.10,000/to resume their lost livelihood due to Covid and lock-down.
- (xxi) Financial package of Rupees Twenty Seven lakh crore (aprox) under 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' was launched specifically to inter-alia create employment opportunities for migrant  workers, workers of unorganized sector, strengthening of MSME Sector and promoting rural economy.
- (xxii) Ministry of Labour & Employment had taken the decision to extend the scheme of 'Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY)' for another one year i.e. from 1 st  July, 2020 to 30 th June, 2021. It was decided to enhance the rate of unemployment relief under the scheme to 50% of wages  from earlier rate of 25% along with relaxation of eligibility  conditions  for  insured  workers  who  had  lost  their  employment  due  to COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdown.
- (xxiii) In order to resolve the grievances of migrant workers during lockdown, Ministry of Labour  and  Employment  set  up  20  Control  Rooms  all  over  the  country.  During lockdown, more than 15000 complaints of the workers were resolved through these Control Rooms and due to the intervention of Ministry more than two lakh workers were paid their due wages amounting to about Rs. 295 crore.

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