(a)the number of homeless and landless labourers/workers at present in the country,
State-wise;
(b)the steps taken by the Government to improve their condition during each of the
last three years and the current year; and
(c)the target fixed and success achieved by the Government in this regard during the
said period, State-wise and year-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH)
(a): A per Census, 2001, there were more than 10.67 crore landless labourers in the
country. State-wise number of homeless and landless labourers is at Annexure-I.
(b)&(c): With a view to providing social security to unorganized workers including
landless labourers, the Government enacted the “Unorganised Workers’ Social Security
Act, 2008â€. The Act provides for constitution of National Social Security Board at the
central level to recommend social security schemes viz. life and disability cover,
health and maternity benefits, old age protection and any other benefit as may be
determined by the Government for unorganized workers. The Government has initiated
steps in the context of all these social security benefits.
The Government launched the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to provide smart card
based cashless health insurance, including maternity benefit, cover of Rs. 30,000/- per
annum on family floater basis to BPL families (a unit of five) in the unorganized sector.
The scheme became operational from 01.04.2008. The scheme is presently being implemented
in 28 States/ Union Territories and more than 3.41 crore smart cards have been issued as
on 28.02.2013.
The Aam Admi Bima Yojana (AABY) was launched on 02.10.2007 with a view to providing
insurance cover to the head of family or one earning member of rural landless households.
Under the scheme, the head of the family or an earning member of the family is eligible
to receive the benefits of Rs. 30000/- in case of natural death, Rs.75000/- accidental
death, Rs. 75000/- for total permanent disability and Rs. 37500/- for partial permanent
disability.
The Government has been implementing Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme
(IGNOAPS), which has been expanded by revising the criteria of eligibility. All
citizens above the age of 60 years and living below poverty line are eligible for
benefits under the scheme. For persons above the age of 80 years, the amount of pension
has been raised from Rs. 200 to Rs. 500 per month.
The number of beneficiaries covered under RSBY, AABY and IGNOAPS during last three years
and current year is at Annexure-II.