Lok Sabha Question No. 447 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Welfare Schemes for Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Nalin Kumar Kateel, Shiromani Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 447 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## WELFARE SCHEMES FOR LABOURERS

447.  SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

## SHRI RAMSHIROMANI VERMA:

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

- (a)the  details  of  the  welfare  schemes  run  by  the  Government
- particularly for upliftment of rural and farm labourers;
- (b)the  details  of  the  agricultural  labourers  benefitted  by  the  said schemes  in  the  Shravasti  Parliamentary  contituency  of  Uttar Pradesh alongwith the names of the Government Schemes for the upliftment of agricultural labourers;
- (c)the total amount allocated in all the districts of Karnataka State under the various schemes during the last five years;
- (d)whether any other steps being taken by the Government to meet the requirements of farm labourers with regard to comprehensive education, living conditions and daily requirements etc.; and (e)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): As per the provisions of the Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act (UWSS), 2008, the Government is committed to provide Social Security to all the workers of the unorganised sector including 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 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).

The  health  and  maternity  benefits  are  insured  through Ayushman Bharat-  Pradhan  Mantri  Jan  Arogya  Yojana  (AB-PMJAY) health insurance coverage upto Rs. 5.00 lakhs per family for secondary and under deprivation and occupation criteria. It provides tertiary care related hospitalization.

In  order  to  provide  old  age  social  security  cover,  the Government of India launched Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme in 2019. It provides monthly 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 and who are not a member of EPFO/ESIC/NPS (Govt. funded) 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  the  scheme,  the  funds  towards Government's  contribution  are  provided  to  LIC  being  the  fund manager.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme  (Mahatma  Gandhi  NREGS)  is  a  demand  driven  wage employment scheme  which provides for the enhancement  of livelihood security of the households in rural areas 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. Apart from above, other schemes such as Public  Distribution  System  through  One  Nation  One  Ration  Card scheme  under  National  Food  Security  Act,  Deen  Dayal  Upadhyay Gramin Kaushal Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Gareeb Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan, Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana, PMSVANidhi, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, PM Vishwakarma etc. are also available  for  the  unorganised  workers  including  farm  labourers depending upon their eligibility criteria. These schemes are demand driven and accordingly the budget is allocated.

Further, the Government has launched e-Shram portal in August,  2021  with  an  objective  to  create  National  Database  of Unorganised  Workers  and  to  facilitate  delivery  of  Social  Security Schemes/Welfare  Schemes  to  the  unorganised  workers.  As  on 31.01.2024, more than 29.35 crore unorganised workers have been registered on e-Shram portal.

The Right of Children to free and compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 mandates the appropriate Government to provide free and compulsory elementary education to every child of the age of 6-14

years in a neighborhood school.

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