14.43 crore landless agriculture workers in India; 68.39 lakh in Gujarat

New Delhi

There are about 14.43 crore landless agriculture workers in the country, of which 68.39 lakh landless agriculture workers are in Gujarat. Under the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, the central government spent Rs.5721.42 crore in 2014-15. The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour and Employment Shri Bandaru Dattatreya provided the information to the Rajya Sabha on May 11, 2016 in reply to a question raised by Rajya Sabha member Mr. Parimal Nathwani.

The minister said that there are 14.43 crore landless agriculture workers in the country as per the Census 2011, which were 10.68 crore as per Census 2001. Gujarat accounts for 68.39 lakh landless agriculture workers, which stood at 51.61 lakh in Census 2001, said the minister. The highest 1.99 crore landless workers are in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Bihar with 1.83 crore landless agriculture workers and both the state witnessed addition of 65.38 lakh and 49.27 lakh landless agriculture workers between Census 2001 and Census 2011 respectively, said the minister.

Interestingly, the number of landless agriculture workers has gone down in Kerala, Goa, Pondicherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Daman & Diu, he said.

Mr. Nathwani wanted to know about the comparative increase in the number of landless agricultural labourers/workers in the country, the details of the schemes run by Government to provide social security to the landless agricultural labourers and unorganised workers in the country including the funds allotted for the purpose, and the details of the other schemes being implemented for the welfare and upliftment of such workers along with the details of workers/ labourers benefited during the said period.

According to the minister’s statement, in 2014-15 the government spent 5721.42 crore under nine schemes, formulated by the Government to provide social security cover to the unorganized workers. These schemes include Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, National Family Benefit Scheme, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme, Handicraft Artisans’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme, Pension to Master Craft Persons, National Scheme for Welfare of Fishermen and Training and Extension, Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, said the statement.

– DeshGujarat