Member sworn

DR. BHARATKUMAR RAUT (MAHARASHTRA): Sir, I wish to mention an important issue of Casual Assignees working in News Services Division and Regional News Units of All India Radio and News Set-up of Doordarshan that they are not being paid the standard fees as per provisions made in the Government Notification.

The News Services Division of AIR and News Set-up of Doordarshan engage casual workers for the post of Newsreaders-cum-Translators, Editors, Production Assistants, Stenographers and Group-D Assistants all over the country in different language news bulletins and performing functions similar to that of regular staff. But they are not being paid fees as per the DoPT Order No.53202/16/86-W.C. dated 23.8.1988. The Supreme Court delivered judgement on this issue on 17 January, 1988 that “Where the nature of work entrusted to the casual workers and regular employees is the same, the casual workers may be paid at the rate of 1/30^thth of the pay at the minimum of the relevant pay scale plus dearness allowance for work of 8 hours a day”. But in the case of casual workers in AIR and Doordarshan at the Centre and in the States, the fee being paid to them is much below the minimum wages notified by the Centre and State Governments. Majority of casual workers in news set-up of AIR and Doordarshan is women.

I urge upon the Minister of Information and Broadcasting to look into the matter and issue a directive to regularise fee structure of casual workers in News Set-up of AIR and Doordarshan as per provisions laid down in DoPT Order No.53202/16/86-W.C. dated 23.8.1988.
(Ends)

SHRI RUDRA NARAYAN PANY (ODISHA): Sir, I associate myself with the Special Mention made by Dr. Bharatkumar Raut.

(Ends)

SHRIMATI MAYA SINGH (MADHYA PRADESH): Sir, I also associate myself with the Special Mention made by Dr. Bharatkumar Raut.

(Ends)

SHRI BIRENDRA PRASAD BAISHYA (ASSAM): Sir, I also associate myself with the Special Mention made by Dr. Bharatkumar Raut.

(Ends)

RG/9Q

NEED TO CONTROL CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY YOUTH

SHRI M. RAMA JOIS (KARNATAKA): Sir, a news item, under the caption, “Alcohol among global killers”, appeared in the Times of India dated 16.12.2011. According to the report, the W.H.O. has stated, “Globally, 6.2 per cent of all male deaths are alcohol-related, compared to 1.1 per cent of female deaths. Around 3.2 lakh young people, aged 15-29 years, die annually from drinking, resulting in nine per cent of all deaths in that age group.”

Experts say that liquor raises the risk of as many as 60 diseases. What is most worrying for India is that the country is home to one of the largest alcoholic beverage industries in the world, producing 65 per cent of the alcohol in the South-East Asia. India contributes to about seven per cent of the total alcohol beverage imports into the region. Though India was among the first countries to raise an alarm against alcohol, yet, it has not been able to put in place an effective anti-alcohol policy, despite article 47 read with article 39 (f) of the Constitution.

In the interest of the nation, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Government of India, should evolve an effective anti-alcohol policy so as to prevent deaths of youth who constitute the health and wealth of the nation.

(Ends)

(Followed by 9R)

9r/ks

DEMAND FOR INCLUSION OF PROVISIONS OF SAME WAGES FOR SAME WORK FOR CONTRACT WORKERS BY AMENDING THE CONTRACT LABOUR ACT
SHRI TAPAN KUMAR SEN (WEST BENGAL): Sir, I would like to draw the Government’s attention to the miserable plight of contract workers, which is deteriorating alarmingly. In most cases, contract workers are deprived of the statutory minimum wages, not to speak of social security benefits. They are also victims of worst types of discrimination. For doing the same work, they get less than one-fifth of the wages or even lesser than their counterparts in regular jobs, which tramples upon the basic constitutional principle of ‘same pay for same work’.

The Government remains a silent spectator to such a situation. The State Labour-Ministers’ Conference held on 22-01-2010 had recommended equal wages and facilities for contract workers doing same or similar work as regular workmen. In the 43^rd Indian Labour Conference held on 23/24-11-2010 at New Delhi under the Chairmanship of the Labour Minister, representatives of the Government and the workers unanimously agreed on amendments of the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act to ensure same wages and benefits for same or similar work. The Labour Ministry had reportedly moved the proposal for such an amendment, but the proposal for amendment has been lying in the Ministries, causing delay. The principle of "same wage for same work" is being ignored, provoking severe unrest.

While pro-business legislative initiatives are announced in haste, without caring for the implications and the cost to the exchequer, there is no such haste for amendment of the Contract Labour (R&A) Act upholding the principle of same wages for same work.

I would urge upon the Government not to delay bringing in the proposal for ensuring same wages and benefits for same work done to the contract workers and to finalize the Amendment Bill in that regard for introduction in Parliament.

(Ends)

(Followed by KR/1R)

KR/SC/1R/12.20

MR DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Now, the hon. Minister will reply to the debate. ..(Interruptions)...

SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU: Mr Deputy Chairman, Sir, I have a submission to make. You just permit us. Last time we discussed in the Chamber and subsequently even while initiating the debate also, I have submitted to the House and to the Minister, mere Agriculture Minister responding to the debate is not going to suffice. It is not going to help because it is a very important issue having far-reaching consequences. Then, the entire agriculture is in crisis in the country. That is why we have said, Finance Minister, Commerce Minister, Panchayati Raj Minister, the Water Resources Minister also should be present while the Minister is giving his reply; otherwise there is no purpose because Agriculture Minister has no power, his name is Pawar, but Pawar has no power. We know that. He has no power. I am not saying it just to disrupt the Minister or upset the Minister's reply. It is a very serious issue. I request the Chair to consider this seriously.

MR DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: The Chair can't give directions. ...(Interruptions)...

SHRI SITARAM YECHURY: Mr. Deputy Chairman, Sir, with all due respect and regard to the Agriculture Minister, we also understand and the debate also highlighted the point that the Agriculture Ministry as well as the Minister himself is very crippled in taking many decisions to bring agriculture beyond the distress crisis that it is in today. It is not confined to his Ministry alone. So, he is not the only one that will be able to answer many of these questions. Therefore, we had hoped that when the hon. Prime Minister was here, and when the Finance Minister was here, the Minister would be giving his reply, so that the House can come to a certain conclusion. We know that the Chair can't direct and tell the Government, but we are requesting, through you, the Government to understand the gravity of the situation. Otherwise, the point is not really to make pun. I do not want to use the pun that Mr Venkaiah Naidu used "Mr Pawar without power". I don't want to do that. But he alone is not going to be in a position to answer many of these questions. The question of level of investment in agriculture is not today only with the Ministry of Agriculture. It is with the Planning Commission; and it is with the Prime Minister's Office. The questions of investment in irrigation, investment in infrastructure, export and import are there. All these things are connected. Unless these are all taken into account, you cannot overcome the agrarian distress today. So, therefore, we would request that there should be a collective responsibility of the Cabinet.

MR DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Do you want a reply from the Agriculture Minister or not? ...(Interruptions)...

SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU: We want a reply from the Minister. While replying to the debate, we want the presence of the Rural Development Minister and the Commerce Minister. ...(Interruptions)...

MR DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: What is that? ...(Interruptions)... What is your problem?

SHRI D. RAJA: One minute, Sir. During the debate every one of us demanded a special session to discuss all the questions related to the agriculture distress. ...(Interruptions)... Let me finish.

MR DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: Mr. Raja, all that will be discussed either in the Business Advisory Committee or in the meeting of leaders inside the Chamber can't be discussed here.

SHRI D. RAJA: There are questions which are agitating all of us.

SHRI SATISH CHANDRA MISRA: The Agriculture Minister alone can give reply to these questions. Other Ministers need to be present here.

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: You have made a demand; it is for the Government to respond.

श्री शिवानन्द तिवारी : सर, हम इनका समर्थन करते हैं।..(व्यवधान)..#

श्री सतीश चन्द्र मिश्रा : सर, इसीलिए हम आपसे रिक्वेस्ट कर रहे हैं। ..(व्यवधान).. हम आपका संरक्षण चाहते हैं।..(व्यवधान).. आप इनको आदेश दें..(व्यवधान)..

श्री उपसभापति : मैं संरक्षण देने के लिए तैयार हूं।..(व्यवधान).. Please, please, what is the problem? That is the subject that we are discussing. ...(Interruptions)... Why are you coming here?

श्री सतीश चन्द्र मिश्रा : आप उनको निर्देश दें। ..(व्यवधान)..

श्री शिवानन्द तिवारी : अभी पार्लियामेंटरी अफेयर्स मिनिस्टर आ गए हैं। ..(व्यवधान).. यह राष्ट्रीय संकट है।..(व्यवधान)..

(Followed by 1S/MKS)

MKS-MCM/12.25/1S

श्री शिवानन्द तिवारी (क्रमागत) : सर, अभी तक काफी किसानों ने आत्म हत्या की है।......(व्यवधान) यह नेशनल क्राइसेस है। इसका प्रधान मंत्री जी को जवाब देना चाहिए।......(व्यवधान)

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: They are requesting that in addition to the Agriculture Minister.....(Interruptions)... They want the Finance Minister also to be present at the time of giving the reply. ...(Interruptions)... What is this? ...(Interruptions)...

SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU: Sir, you direct him to convey this to the Government and bring all the Ministers at 2 o’clock. ...(Interruptions)...

श्री शिवानन्द तिवारी : कई बार एग्रीकल्चर के मामले में यहां चर्चा हुई है। ...(व्यवधान).... किसानों के बारे में चर्चा हुई है। ...(व्यवधान)... यह राष्ट्रीय संकट घोषित किया जाए। ....(व्यवधान)

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: This is a new request. ...(Interruptions)...

संसदीय कार्य मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री राजीव शुक्ल) : सर, जब इस मुद्दे पर बहस की बात हुई, तो इस तरह की कोई मांग नहीं रखी गई। सदन की परम्परा है कि जो विषय जिस मंत्रालय के अधीन होता है उस मंत्रालय का मंत्री जवाब देता है।.......(व्यवधान)

SHRI KUMAR DEEPAK DAS: Sir, you are not listening to us. ...(Interruptions)...

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: I am listening to you, Mr. Kumar Deepak Das. ...(Interruptions)... Yes, I am listening to you. ...(Interruptions)... Yes, you please meet the Chairman. ...(Interruptions)...

श्री राजीव शुक्ल : सर, केबिनेट भी collective responsibility से चलती है। किसी बहस में कितने भी मंत्रियों को बुला लो......(व्यवधान)

SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU: Let all the other Ministers be present at 2 o’clock. ...(Interruptions)... Let the Parliamentary Affairs Minister convey this to the Government and bring other Ministers by 2 o’clock. ...(Interruptions)... We will listen to him at 2 o’clock. ...(Interruptions)...

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: The House is adjourned for ten minutes.

------

The House then adjourned at twenty-six minutes past

twelve of the clock.
TMV-GS/1T/12.35

The House re-assembled at thirty-six minutes past twelve of the clock, THE VICE-CHAIRMAN (PROF. P. J. KURIEN) in the Chair.
-----

THE VICE-CHAIRMAN (PROF. P. J. KURIEN): The House is adjourned to meet at 2.00 p.m.

******

The House then adjourned at thirty-six minutes

past twelve of the clock.


VK/1U/2.00

The House reassembled at two of the clock,

MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN in the Chair

-----

SHORT DURATION DISCUSSION ON SITUATION ARISING

OUT OF PRESENT AGRARIAN CRISIS RESULTING

IN SUICIDES IN THE COUNTRY - CONTD

----

SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU: Sir, we are thankful that the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs has conveyed it to other Ministers in the Government and finally the Finance Minister, the Commerce Minister, the Power Minister and other Ministers are there. It is not because of any false prestige or anything. We wanted them to understand the seriousness of the situation. I only request them to sit through the debate and then intervene at the end and answer if there are any queries.

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR): Mr. Deputy Chairman, Sir, I am grateful to the hon. Member, Shri M. Venkaiah Nadu, for raising the issue of farming community and particularly the problem which is agitating the minds of all of us, that is, about farmer suicides. I am also grateful to all the Members who have participated in the debate and given very valuable suggestions. I recollect, in the last Parliament Session in Lok Sabha and even in this House, on many occasions, we had discussed the issue of price rise particularly of essential commodities, but hardly once or twice we had discussed the problem of the farming community, particularly agriculture. There was no specific discussion on this subject. Whenever the prices of essential commodities, particularly agricultural produce have gone high, whether it was onion for a temporary period, or potato for some specific period, these issues were raised in the House and on some occasions there was a serious discussion too. But I am extremely happy about one thing this time that the whole House was eager to discuss the problems of the farming community which they are facing day-to-day, which ultimately affects the productivity and also production. I need not explain the importance of agriculture, which takes care of the food security for millions of people; provide jobs to more than 58 per cent people of this country and 62 per cent population depends on agriculture. There are a number of issues which are creating problems. Some of the issues are such where we will not be able to get the answer immediately. For example, the hon. Member, Shri Venkaiah Naidu, has mentioned that day by day agriculture is becoming unviable. I fully agree with him because the average holding in the country as a whole has come down to 1.2 hectares per family and 82 per cent farmers have less than 2 hectares of land. When the average comes to 1.2 hectares per family, that means a family of five persons has to look after their day- to-day needs with such a small holding. Out of that 60 per cent agriculture in this country is totally dependent on erratic monsoon. See the figures of last year. Last year, more than 140 districts of this country were facing drought. So if this type of situation happens in any Tehsil, any block, any village, any district, it does affect the farming family substantially.

(Contd. By 1W)

RG/2.05/1W

SHRI SHARAD PAWAR (contd.): The second issue, which we are observing nowadays, is that already when there is pressure of population on land, there is also onslaught of urbanization on the agricultural land. In 1947, when we got independence, the population of this country was 35 crores, and out of 35 crores, 80 per cent population was depending on agriculture. Today, we have crossed one billion, and out of more than 1 billion, 62 per cent depend on agriculture. Cities are expanding. I recollect, in the city of Mumbai, when we took a decision to develop a new city, twin city, called Navi Mumbai, more than 60,000 hectares of land were acquired in those days, and the entire paddy land has now been converted to build one of the major cities. Now, it is the case not only of Mumbai, but it is also happening in every city; it is happening even in villages. If you have to construct school building in villages, you have to convert agricultural land. If you have to construct any public institution, you have to convert agricultural land into non-agricultural land. A lot of programmes are being undertaken for construction of new roads, national highways and autobahns. And, all these require agricultural land. And, we see a similar situation in the case of industrialization as well. So, day-by-day, the agricultural land is shrinking on the one side and, on the other hand, the pressure on agricultural land is going up. That, itself, is creating a serious problem for the farming community, particularly, their families.

The next problem, which our farmer is facing, is the problem of low productivity, as compared to other countries. In the last two years, certain decisions had been taken; the State Governments have co-operated; the farming community has worked like anything, and we have succeeded to resolve the problem of food security in this country. But, when I compare India with China on a number of crops; or, compare the production of paddy with France, the per hectare yield is quite low in our country. Even, in sugarcane, when we compare the per hectare yield in South Africa and Australia vis-à-vis India, the position is not very encouraging in our country. So, low productivity is one of the important issues which our country is facing. So, these are the basic reasons why agriculture has become unviable to many, why unhappiness is there among some sections of the farming community, and why we are also witnessing some cases of suicides in many States. The hon. Member, Shri Venkaiah Naidu, has said that nowadays there is a growing feeling among the farming community to leave this profession. I tried to collect information from the NSS. About 40 per cent of those distract from farming were asked the reason for their disaffection. At the All India level, forty per cent of those who distracted from farming include twenty per cent, who did not find farming profitable, eight per cent thought it to be too risky and two per cent distracted from farming because of lack of social status. These are the general information which we got from the NSS Report. But there are also sizeable sections of farmers who like farming, and the percentage of people, who like farming, is also more than 60 per cent. But there are some States, which we have to take serious note of, where a sizeable percentage of population feels that farming is not profitable. In Bihar, 36 per cent of farmers feel that it is not profitable; In Haryana, it is 30 per cent; Jharkhand, 30 per cent; Karnataka, 28 per cent; Orissa, 34 per cent; Maharashtra, 29 per cent; and West Bengal, 36 per cent. Also, if we compare the all-India figures, 27 per cent of the farming community feels that it is not at all profitable.

(Continued by 1X)

1x/2.10/kgg

SHRI SHARAD PAWAR (contd.): And that is the reason. There is a growing feeling in a certain section that they should think about some other profession. One of the important issues has been raised by many hon. Members, about the incidences of suicide committed by the farming community. All of us are worried about the issue of suicide by the farmers and the reason is agrarian crisis. But, I am getting an altogether different information from the States. In fact, I would like to take the entire House into confidence. I think, the time has come for all of us to go into details. First of all, we should try to understand the report and break up of the National Crime Records Bureau, whose figures always disturb this House and many other offices. I will give an example and take you to just one year. Let us take the year 2010. What this National Crime Records Bureau says? The total number of suicides in India is 1,34,599. It is not just about the agriculturists, but of all. Of which, the number of suicides that came from the farming community, from the profession of agriculture, is 15,964.

Now, let us see the categorisation by profession. During 2010, as per the NCRB, the number of suicides by the self-employed and others was 28,152. Housewives--25,058. Others—20,658. The number of suicides by students is 7,379; unemployed—10,033. Then, the figure of suicides by farmers due to agrarian reason that are reported by the State Governments is altogether different.

In fact, I could not understand one thing. The National Crime Records Bureau is giving one figure, which all of us are discussing, on which all of us are worried. When I tried to contact the State Governments and tried to collect the information from them, I get an altogether different information. To tell you on the information that I got from the States, some of the State Governments have accepted on it and said, ‘Yes, there are suicides.’ But, the number of States that are saying this are going down. For instance, take the case of Andhra Pradesh. For 2006, the total number of suicides due to agrarian reason, reported by the State Government, is 556; for 2007, 493; for 2008, 469; for 2009, 277; for 2010, 188; for 2011, it is 71. So, the trend the Andhra Pradesh Government is reporting is going down.

There is a similar situation in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala. But, there are some other States; in fact, there are 26 States where the Bureau says that there are instances of suicides. Out of 26, there are 16 States which have communicated to me in writing; in those States, there is not a single case of suicide. I could not understand whom to depend. The Bureau is saying, ‘Yes, there are cases in Uttar Pradesh.’ The Bureau is saying, ‘Yes, there are cases in Punjab.’ The Bureau is saying, ‘Yes, there are cases in Orissa.’ But, the State Government is communicating in writing, ‘There might be suicides, but not because of agrarian reason.’ Therefore, whatever has appeared or reported is not uniform. I tried to collect the information at least from those States who have accepted that there are cases of suicides to know what the reasons are. The reasons of the suicide by the farmer, reported by the State Government, are manifold.

(Contd. by ks/1y)

1y/2:15/ks-sch