Question : Agricultural Workers

(a)whether many welfare schemes have been formulated and implemented for the unorganized workers especially rural and agricultural workers and if so, the details thereof along with the monitoring mechanism of schemes especially in cases of accidents;
(b)the State/UT-wise, scheme-wise details of funds allocated and utilized under the said scheme during each of the last three years and the current year;
(c)the State-/UT-wise number of agricultural labourers benefited from the said schemes during the said period and the other steps taken by the Government especially for the welfare of agricultural labourers in the country;
(d)whether the number of landless agricultural labourers/workers has increased in the country including Maharashtra during the last three years and the current year, State-wise/UT-wise and the details of the schemes being implemented by the Government to provide social security to agricultural such labourers workers engaged in unorganized sector in the country; and
(e)the State-wise/UT-wise details of the labourers/ workers benefited during the said period?

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

(a): As per the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008, the Government is mandated to provide social security to the workers of unorganised sector including agricultural labourers as per their
Contd..2/-
:: 2 ::

eligibility criteria by formulating suitable welfare schemes on matters relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection etc. The details of such welfare schemes are as under;

(i) Life and disability cover is provided through Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Surksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).
(ii) The health and maternity benefits are provided through Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) which is a universal health scheme.
(iii) Old age protection is provided to the unorganised sector workers through Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM-SYM) pension scheme.

(b): Under PMJJBY and PMSBY, the premium of Rs. 342/- (Rs. 330/- under PMJJBY +Rs.12/- under PMSBY) is to be borne by individual/ State Government. Under AB-PMJAY scheme, the details of the funds released to States/UTs as central share of premium during the last three years are as under:
Year Amount of Central Share of premium released to States/UTs (Rs. in crores)
2018-19 1849.55
2019-20 2992.95
2020-21 2544.12

Under the PM-SYM pension scheme, 50% monthly contribution is payable by the beneficiary and equal matching contribution is paid by the Central Government. The Government contribution is released to LIC of India which is designated as fund manager of the scheme and responsible for the pension pay out and no funds is released to State/UT Governments.
(c) to (d): The Government has taken various initiatives to extend the benefits of social security schemes to the workers of unorganised sector including agricultural labourers. Apart from the above schemes, other schemes such as Public Distribution System under National Food Security Act, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Kaushal Yojana, Pradhan Mantri
Contd..3/-

:: 3 ::
Awas Yojana, Gareeb Kalyan Rojgar Yojana, Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana, PM-SVANidhi, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana etc. are also available for the unorganised workers including agricultural labourers depending upon their eligibility criteria. Further, the Ministry of Labour & Employment has developed e-SHRAM portal with an objective to create National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) to facilitate delivery of Social Security Schemes/ Welfare Schemes of the Central /State Governments to the workers of informal/unorganised sector. As on 16.03.2022, a total of more than 26 crore workers have been registered under the e-SHRAM portal out of which 13.80 crore workers have been registered in agriculture sector including 59.16 lakh from the State of Maharashtra as per self-declaration.
(e): The State/UT-wise details of beneficiaries registered under PMJJBY and PMSBY (as on 27.10.2021), AB-PMJAY (as on November, 2021) and PM-SYM (as on 18.02.2022) are at Annexure A, Annexure B and Annexure C respectively.

*** *******