opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2383 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Setting up of IIMs
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: V. SATHYABAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2383 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2015

## Setting up of IIMs

## 2383.  SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has set up new Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs) in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the criteria for admission in the said IIMs?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) and (b): During 2015, six Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have been set up at Amritsar (Punjab), Bodhgaya (Bihar), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Sambalpur (Odisha), Sirmaur (Himachal Pradesh), and Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). The classes of these IIMs have commenced from the academic session 2015-16 from their temporary campuses.
- (c): IIMs follow uniform eligibility criteria in Common  Admission  Test (CAT). Admission to various IIMs is made through admission policies developed by the individual IIM and CAT scores are used as one of the inputs in the admission process. Other inputs inter alia include marks in class 10, class 12 and graduation and work experience.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 2382 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Shortage of Government Colleges
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: NATUBHAI GOMANBHAI PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2382 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2015

## Shortage of Government Colleges

## †2382. SHRI NATUBHAI GOMANBHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has noticed that students migrated to other States for study on account of shortage of Government medical and engineering colleges in their own States;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  students  have  to  take  admission  in  private  colleges  owing  to  shortage  of Government colleges;
- (d)  if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether these private colleges charge hefty amount in the name of fee;
- (f)   if so, whether the Government proposes to open Government colleges in all States;
- (g)  if so, whether the Government proposes to open any medical and engineering college in Dadra and Nagar Haveli; and
- (h)   if so, the details thereof and the time by which these are likely to be set up?

## A N S W E R

## Minister of Human Resource Development (Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani)

(a) to  (d)    There  is  competition  among  students  due  to  limited  seats  in  government  and reputed  private  institutions  as  compared  to  the  number  of  applications.  Overall  there  is surplus capacity in the engineering sector with 8,44,328 seats remaining vacant in 2014-15.

- (e) Some instances of taking excess fee have come to the notice of All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). It has called upon students, parents and the general public

not to pay any capitation fee or any other fee other than that mentioned in the Prospectus of the institutions for consideration of admission through advertisement/public notice from time to  time.  Aggrieved  students/parents  can  send  their  complaint  to  Grievance  Redressal Committee of the Institution and, if not satisfied with the decision of the Committee, they can send  an  appeal  to  the  Ombudsman.  The  Srikrishna  Committee  setup  by  AICTE  has  not recommended charging of capitation fee except tuition and development fee. Any institution reported to be charging capitation fee shall be liable for punitive action including withdrawal of approval under the Approval Process Hand Book.

- (f) All states have one National Institute of Technology (NIT).

(g) & (h)   No Madam, there is no proposal to open any engineering college in Dadra and Nagar Haveli under the Central Sector.

-

-       -
Lok Sabha Question No. 2380 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Setting up of University
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RITI PATHAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2380 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2015

## Setting up of University

## 2380. SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

Will	the	Minister	of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be	pleased	to	state:

- (a) whether	 the	 Government	 has	 planned	 to	 set	 up	 institutions/universities	 like Institute	for	River	Sciences	for	higher	studies	in	the	country;
- (b) if	so,	the	details	thereof;	and
- (c) if	 not,	 the	 reasons	 therefor	 and	 the	 measures	 taken	 by	 the	 Government	 to improve	river	literacy	and	education?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

(SMT.	SMRITI	ZUBIN	IRANI)

(a)to	(c):	 No	Madam.		At	present,	there	is	neither	any	proposal	nor	any	request	with the	Ministry	to	set	up	River	Sciences	institute/university	for	higher	studies.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2379 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Research Projects to NGOs
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: NEELAM SONKER, AJAY NISHAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2379 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2015

## Research Projects to NGOs

## †2379. SHRIMATI NEELAM SONKER: SHRI AJAY NISHAD:

Will	the	Minister	of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be	pleased	to	state:

- (a) whether	 the	 Government	 has	 given	 research	 contracts	 to	 the	 Advisors,	 NonGovernmental	Organisations	(NGOs),	Educational	and	Research	Organisations	etc.	in the	country;
- (b) if	 so,	 the	details	thereof	during	the	last	three	years	and	the	current	year	including the	progress	made	in	this	regard;
- (d) if	so,	the	details	thereof	and	if	not,	the	reasons	therefor;	and
- (c) whether	the	advertisement	for	research	contracts	has	been	given	on	the	Ministry's website;
- (e) the	 details	 of	 the	 internal	 procedure	 being	 followed	 for	 determining	 the	 topics	 of research	contracts?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

(SMT.	SMRITI	ZUBIN	IRANI)

- (a) to	(e):			No	such	research	contracts	are	given	by	this	Ministry.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2378 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: SC/ST Employees
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: HARISHCHANDRA DEORAM CHAVAN

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2378

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 14TH DECEMBER, 2015

## SC/ST EMPLOYEES

## 2378. SHRI HARISHCHANDRA CHAVAN :

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether appointment of employees belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe(ST) has reduced in the Ministry;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  number  of  various  posts  vacant  in  the  States  including  Maharashtra  and  the number of posts to be filled and the actual number of working employees of SC/ST in the Ministry;
- (d) the corrective measures taken by Government in this regard; and
- (e) the time by which the vacant posts are likely to be filled in the Ministry?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) to (e): The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is the Cadre Controlling Authority in respect of Multi Tasking Staff (MTS, Group´C') . The number of MTS in position are 27.The actual number of SC/ST employees working in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in MTS grade as on date is given as under :

|   SC |   ST |   Total |
|------|------|---------|
|   13 |   02 |      15 |

There is no office of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas in the States including in Maharashtra.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2376 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Cold Drink Prices at IITF
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2376 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2015

## COLD DRINK PRICES AT IITF

## 2376(H). SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether the contractors and cold drink companies have been found to be selling cold drinks at the rate which is almost two times higher than market rate in the recently concluded 35th India International Trade Fair (IITF) at Pragati Maidan in Delhi;
- b) if so, whether the Government has received a number of complaints in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- c) whether such irregularity has been reported during the last five years and the Government has not taken any action so far and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- d) the action proposed to be taken by the Government against those who are involved in this?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )श्रीमती निममला सीतारमि((स्वतंत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) & (b) : No complaint of overcharging was received in this regard from any visitor/exhibitor during IITF-2015.

- (c) : As far as ITPO is concerned, a few minor complaints were reported in the past and the same were resolved as per license agreement.

- (d) : ITPO has already incorporated relevant clauses in the license agreement to check and curb violations of such nature.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2375 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Higher Education Programme
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2375 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2015

## Higher Education Programme

2375. SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN: Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  has  made  some  amendments  in  Joint  Declaration  of  Intent  signed between India and Germany in Higher Education Programme; (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for such amendments; (c) the details of funding to be made available for implementation of Indo-German Partnerships in Higher Education Programme; and (d) the manner in which the higher education institutions in both the countries will benefit mutually

to enhance innovative partnerships in the field of education, research and skill development?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani)

(a) & (b): Yes,  madam.  An  MoU  dated  11 th April,  2013  was  signed  between  the  Ministry  of Human  Resource  Development  and  Federal  Ministry  of  Education  and  Research  of  the  Federal Republic of Germany on 'Indo-German Strategic Partnership in Higher Education'. The program is to  be  jointly  funded  by  both  the  ministries  for  an  initial  period  of  four  years  i.e.  2015-2019. However, with the mutual consent of both the parties, the programme has been renamed as 'IndoGerman Partnership in Higher Education'. Duration of the programme has also been changed from 2015-2019 to 2016-2020 as it would take some time to prepare initial documents for inviting calls for joint projects. These changes have been incorporated through the Joint Declaration of Intent signed between the two countries on 05 th October, 2015.

- (c) Each side will provide a total of 3.5 million Euros for the program period of four years.
- (d) 'Indo-German Partnership in Higher Education Programme' encourages intensive partnerships at the institutional level. It will focus on establishing joint projects that will include joint supervision and student exchange and enhance long term partnerships between Indian and German Institutions of Higher Education.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2374 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Coir Udyami Yojana
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: R. VANAROJA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2347 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2015

## HANDLOOM INDUSTRY

2347. SHRI R. PARTHIPAN:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Handloom and Powerloom industries have been included  in  the  categories  of  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises (MSMEs);
- (b) if so, whether the Government has extended its scheme of providing loan  to  the  MSMEs  without  collateral  to  the  Handloom  and  Powerloom industries;
- (c) whether the Government has also instructed nationalised banks to increase loan facility without collateral to the Handloom and Power loom industries; and
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

- (a): As per Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, the micro, small and medium industries are classified into two,
- i)   Manufacturing enterprises which are defined in terms of investment
- in plant and machinery, and
- ii)   Service  enterprises  which  are  defined  in  terms  of  investment  in
- equipment.

MSME's are not classified on the basis of sectors.

- (b) to (d): Under  Prime  Minister's  Employment  Generation  Programme (PMEGP),  a  credit  linked  subsidy  scheme,  loans  upto  Rs.25  lakh  for manufacturing sector and Rs.10 lakh for service sector are provided to set up  micro-enterprises  including  hand-loom  and  power-loom  units.  Project loans upto Rs.10.00 lakh are collateral free.

The government is implementing the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to provide guarantee cover for collateral free credit facilities extended by Member Lending Institutions to Micro  and  Small  Enterprises  (MSEs)  on  loans  up  to  Rs.  100  lakh  per borrowing unit. The Scheme is implemented by Credit Guarantee Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises through Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) since August, 2000.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2373 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Research and Knowledge in various Languages
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2373 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2015

## Research and Knowledge in various Languages

## 2373. SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH:

- Will	the	Minister	of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be	pleased	to	state: (a) whether	 the	 Government	 has	 any	 proposal	 to	 provide	 all	 the	 research	 and knowledge	 available	 in	 the	 country	 for	 all	 the	 languages	 mentioned	 in	 VII Schedule	of	the	Constitution; (b) if	so,	the	details	thereof; (c) if	not,	whether	a	study	is	being	done	to	find	out	the	solution	for	the	same;	and whether	the	digital	library	scheme	of	the	Ministry	is	likely	to	provide	books	only
- (d) in	English	and	if	so,	the	details	thereof	along	with	the	reasons	therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

(SMT.	SMRITI	ZUBIN	IRANI)

(a)	to	(d): Bharatvani	 is	 a	 project	 with	 the	 objective	 of	 delivering	 knowledge	 in	 and about	 all	 the	 languages	 in	 India	 using	 multimedia	 formats	 through	 a	 web	 portal.	 This project	 is	 a	 part	 of	 the	 effort	 to	 create	 a	 knowledge	 society	 in	 the	 age	 of	 Digital	 India. Bharatvani	 collects	 knowledge	 content	 in	 all	 the	 listed	 languages	 in	 multimedia	 formats from		Government	and	Non	Governmental	Institutions,	Educational	Institutions,	Boards	of Education,		Universities	and	Publication	Houses.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2372 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Policy for Coffee Growers
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2372 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2015

## POLICY FOR COFFEE GROWERS

## 2372. SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Coffee Board has come out with a new policy proposing incentives for coffee  growers  if  they  sell  their  produce  through  auction  platforms  such  as  Indian Coffee Trade Association (ICTA);
- b) if so, the details thereof;
- c) whether any subsidy is also likely to be provided for export through Self-Help Groups or farmer producer organizations and if so, the details thereof; and
- d) whether subsidy is also proposed for small roaster and curing units to boost domestic production of coffee and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )णीमीी स मलमा नीीारमि((स्वींत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) to (c): As part of the Integrated Coffee Development Project under the XII Plan, a new component of 'Market Development' has been included to provide incentives to small and tiny growers to form collectives/  Self  Help  Groups  (SHGs)/  Cooperatives  and  encourage  them  to  take  up  marketing  of coffee produced through a  community based approach.

As per the scheme, coffee marketing can be taken up by the collectives/ SHGs/ cooperatives of  small  growers  through  a  recognised  public  auction  platform  like  Indian  Coffee  Trade Association  (ICTA)  or  the  recognized  commodity  exchanges  where  physical  delivery  of coffee takes place. Such collectives/SHGs can also undertake exports and earn incentives. The support  for  coffee  marketing  is  available  @  Rs.4/kg  of  clean  coffee,  marketed  by  small growers' collectives / SHGs / Cooperatives in traditional coffee growing states. For SHGs / collectives of tribal growers or any Government nodal agency like ITDA (Integrated Tribal Development  Agency)  /  GCC  (Girijan  Cooperative  Corporation)  in  non-traditional  areas, support is available @ Rs.10/kg of clean coffee.

(d) : Under the XII Plan scheme for the coffee sector,  support for value addition is extended for activities involving improvement of technologies in roasting, grinding and packaging units. The small roasting  units  with  a  capacity  of  less  than  25kg  capacity  are  eligible  for  subsidy support  of  35%  of  the  machinery  cost  with  a  ceiling  of  Rs.  50  lakhs.  Small  commercial gourmet roasting units with less than 10 kg capacity are eligible for subsidy support of 35% of the cost of the machinery with a maximum ceiling of Rs.10 lakhs per unit. 25% subsidy for

- upgradation of curing units with a ceiling of Rs. 50 lakhs per unit is available to the curing works holding valid license issued by Coffee Board.
- *******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2371 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Amenities at Tea Gardens in Assam
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2371 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2015

## AMENITIES AT TEA GARDENS IN ASSAM

## 2371. SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- a) whether  there  are  many  tea  gardens  in  Assam  which  do  not  have  proper  road connectivity and drinking water facilities;
- b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- c) whether the Government has implemented any scheme or issued any order to the tea garden  management  to  make  well  connected  roads  and  provide  drinking  water facilities to workers; and
- d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  any  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग राज् य मंत्री )श्रीमती निममला सीतारमि((स्वतंत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a)  &  (b):  As  most  of  the  tea  gardens  in  Assam  are  located  in  remote  areas,  the infrastructural facilities and connectivity to such areas is at times less than adequate. However, the Plantation Labour Act, (PLA) 1951 mandates the tea estates to provide basic  welfare  services  and  amenities  e.g.  housing,  health  facilities  and  primary education,  water  supply,  sanitation  etc.  to  the  tea  workers.  Simultaneously,  the construction and maintenance of the roads outside the tea gardens is undertaken by the State Governments. The facilities to be provided under the PLA are also monitored and governed by the concerned State Government.

(c) & (d): Tea Board implements programmes for Human Resource Development (HRD) under the XII Plan Scheme namely, Tea Development & Promotion Scheme. The HRD component  is  aimed  at  filling  in  critical  gaps  in  the  welfare  of  tea  garden  workers, particularly  in  health  and  education  sector.  A  sum  of  Rs.50.00  crores  has  also  been earmarked under the HRD component for the XII Plan period for Gap Funding to the State  Governments  in  the  major  tea  growing  States  in  order  to  align  with  their activities through National Level Welfare Schemes implemented in tea gardens.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2369 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-14
Subject: Policy on Agricultural Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: DHARAMBIR BHALERAM, RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA, DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2369 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2015

## POLICY ON AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS

†2369. SHRI DHARAMBIR: SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA: SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

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

- (a)whether there is any proposal to implement National policy on Agricultural labourers in the country and if so, the details and salient features thereof; (b)if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)whether  the  agricultural  labourers  constitute  over  50/60  per  cent  of  the total work force in the country;
- (d)if so, the percentage of agricultural labourers, who do not get sustainable level of employment throughout the year; and
- (e)the steps taken by the Government  to  provide  employment  to  all agricultural  workers/labourers  in  the  country  or  employment  through diversification throughout the year?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a) & (b): There is no such policy on Agricultural Labourers. However, the Government has already enacted 'Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008' for the welfare of unorganised workers including agricultural labourers. The Act provides for formulation of suitable welfare schemes for unorganised workers on 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  through  the National Social Security Board.
- (c): As per the Worker Census 2011, the number of total workers in the agriculture sector, comprising of cultivators and agricultural labourers, is 26,31,42,470  against  the  total  workforce  of  48,18,88,868,  which  constitute 54.61% of the total workforce in the country.
- (d) & (e): The Government of India has enacted Mahatma Gandhi National Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Act,  2005  that  aims  to  ensure  livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a  financial  year  to  every  household  whose  adult  members  volunteer  to  do unskilled manual work.

*******