NEW DELHI, 14 December 2016 : The Indian labour and employment ministry has made it clear that it has not appointed any committee/task force to frame policies for agricultural labourers.
The minister of state for labour and employment, Bandaru Dattatreya said in a written reply in the upper house recently that the government provide agricultural labourers social secuirty under the Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008.
"In the light of the above, no committee/taskforce has been appointed by the ministry of labour and employment to frame a policy on agricultural labourers," Ministry of Labout and Employment said in a statement today.
Under this act, suitable welfare schemes for unorganised workers that includes agricultural labourers can avail folloing benefits that includes (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.
The minister further pointed out that various Schemes, formulated by the Government to provide social security cover to the unorganized workers, which include agricultural labourers are listed in the Schedule I of the above Act are as under:
i. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (Ministry of Rural Development)
ii. National Family Benefit Scheme (Ministry of Rural Development)
iii. Janani Suraksha Yojana (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
iv. Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (Ministry of Textiles)
v. Handicraft Artisans’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme (Ministry of Textiles)
vi. Pension to Master Craft Persons (Ministry of Textiles)
vii. National Scheme for Welfare of Fishermen and Training and Extension (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries)
viii. Aam Admi Bima Yojana (Department of Financial Services)
ix. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare).
Apart from this, the Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana launched by the Central Government also provide social security coverage to agricultural labourers.
Image: Udupitoday.com
