Lok Sabha Question No. 53 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-04
Subject: Formulation of Scheme for Agriculture and Rural Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Anil Firojiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 53 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2023

## FORMULATION OF SCHEME FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL WORKERS

†53. SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:

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

- (a)whether any scheme has been formulated for agriculture and rural workers;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether any scheme has been implemented for providing minimum wages,  security,  social  security  and  health  coverage  to  the workers; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d): As  per  the  Unorganised  Workers'  Social  Security  Act, 2008, the Government is mandated to provide Social Security to the workers  of  unorganized  sector  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 available for unorganised sector workers including agriculture and rural workers are as follow:
- (i)  Life  and  Disability  cover  is  provided  through  Pradhan  Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY). Risk coverage under  PMJJBY  scheme is for Rs.  2.00  Lakh  in  case  of  death  of  insured,  due  to  any  reason,  at annual premium of Rs. 436/-. The risk coverage under PMSBY is Rs. 2.00 Lakh in case of accidental death or total permanent disability and Rs. 1.00 lakh for partial permanent disability due to accident at a premium of Rs. 20/- per annum.

Contd..2/-

- (ii) The health and maternity benefits are insured through Ayushman Bharat-  Pradhan  Mantri  Jan  Arogya  Yojana  (AB-PMJAY)  under deprivation  and  occupation  criteria.  It  provides  health  insurance coverage upto Rs. 5.00 lakhs per family for secondary and tertiary care related hospitalization.
- (iii)  In  order  to  provide  old  age  protection  to  unorganised  sector workers, the Government of India had launched a pension scheme in 2019  namely  Pradhan  Mantri  Shram  Yogi  Maan-dhan  Yojana  (PMSYM) to provide a monthly pension of Rs. 3000/- after attaining the age of 60 years to unorganized workers.

Apart from above, other schemes such as Public Distribution  System  through  One  Nation  One  Ration  Card  scheme under National Food Security Act, Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment  Guarantee  Act,  Deen  Dayal  Upadhyay  Gramin  Kausal Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Rojgar  Yojana,  Mahatma  Gandhi  Bunkar  Bima  Yojana,  Deen  Dayal Antyodaya  Yojana,  PMSVANidhi,  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas Yojana  etc.  are  also  available  for  the  unorganized  sector  workers including agriculture and rural workers depending upon their eligibility criteria.

As the Central Government and the State Governments are appropriate Government under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, to fix, review and revise the minimum wages of the employees employed in the scheduled employments including agriculture, in their respective jurisdiction, the rates of minimum wages vary from one appropriate Government to another.

*****