New bill passed in Kerala ensures pension scheme for farmers

The Kerala Assembly has passed a new law to create farmers welfare board for the first time in any Indian state. 

The law passed on November 21 aims at improving the living standard of the farmers by ensuring their financial stability via monthly pension benefits, India Today reports.

Following multiple rounds of discussions and sittings across the state, the bill was submitted and passed in the Assembly with amendments.

The bill, proposed in the Assembly was referred to the select committee.

Each farmer who possess a maximum of 15 acres of land or who is farming on lease land up to 15 acres is entitled to get the benefits of the welfare board.

Every farmer, above the age of 18 can contribute a minimum of Rs 100 per month to the scheme.

The government will make a contribution of the same amount or a maximum of Rs 250 for each farmer as part of the scheme. If a farmer continuously contributes for a minimum of five years, the farmer will be entitled to a lifetime pension after the age of 60.

The pension amount will be determined based on the contribution and number of years.

A farmer who has contributed to the scheme for 25 years will get a one-time payment based on his contribution to the scheme.

Women farmers or daughters of registered farmers will get financial support for marriage, education and maternity.

State Agriculture Minister VS Sunil Kumar said that this is a first of its kind scheme in the entire country.

"We are trying to give a comprehensive support package to the farmers in the state. Apart from traditional farmers, plantations and farms will also be under this scheme. We have kept an annual income of Rs 5 lakh as the maximum limit to be part of this scheme. Now that the bill has been passed, we hope to set up the board between three to six months," VS Sunil Kumar said.