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Title : Need for enacting central legislation providing social security to Agricultural Workers.
SHRI HANNAN MOLLAH (ULUBERIA): Sir, I would like to raise a very serious problem here.
For the last three decades, the issue of agricultural workers is being raised in this House. Sir, you know that about 15 crores of agricultural workers are there all over the country and they comprise the largest single section of the working people in the unorganised sector. There is no law to protect them. In our country, there are laws to protect the animals and trees but not human beings. Unfortunately, this section of our population has no law, no identity, no registration, no working hours, no adequate wage, no pension, no social security benefit and other benefits.
In my earlier terms in the Lok Sabha, I have always raised this issue in the form of Private Members’ Bill and in this Lok Sabha also, I have submitted it as a Private Members’ Bill. I drew the attention of the House to this issue and the whole House supported it. But neither the previous Government nor this Government has yet decided to bring a law for them. This is included in the Common Minimum Programme. Though almost two years of this Government have passed, we have not yet got a law for them.
I would urge upon the Government to implement the Common Minimum Programme and bring in a central legislation for the agricultural workers in this Session itself so that the largest section of poor people will be benefited[bru26] .
MR. SPEAKER: Rest of the admitted matters of urgent public importance will be taken up at 6 o’clock.
Now, the House stands adjourned to meet again at 2.05 p.m.
13.06 hrs. The Lok Sabha then adjourned for Lunch till five minutes
past Fourteen of the Clock.
———
14.10 hrs.
The Lok Sabha re-assembled after Lunch at ten minutes
past Fourteen of the Clock.
(Mr. Deputy-Speaker in the Chair)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Item Number 12, Matters under Rule 377, listed for today may be treated as laid on the Table of the House. They will form part of the proceedings of the day.