 bill no 14 of 2007 the farmers welfare fund bill, 2007 by shri adhalrao shivaji patil, mp a billto provide for the constitution of farmers welfare fund and for matters connected therewith or incidental theretobe it enacted by parliament in the fifty-eighth year of the republic of india as follows:—1 (1) this act may be called the farmers welfare fund act, 2007short title and extent   (2)  it extends to the whole of indiadefinitions52  in this act, unless the context otherwise requires,—(i) "farmer" means any person engaged in agriculture and whose landholdingdoes not exceed five acres of land;(ii) "fund" means farmers welfare fund constituted under section  (3) of thisact; and10(iii) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this actfarmers welfare fund3  (1) the central government shall constitute a fund to be known as the farmers welfare fund(2) the central government and the state governments shall contribute to the fund in such proportion as may be prescribed5(3) such other sums as may be received by way of donation, contribution or assistance or otherwise shall also be credited to the fund4 (1) the central government shall set up a farmers welfare board for the purpose of administering the fundfarmers welfare board for administering the fund(2) the board shall consist of—(i) a chairperson, to be appointed by the central government;10(ii) one representative each of the union ministries of power, water resources,new and renewable energy, rural development and finance;(iii) one representative of the planning commission;(iv) one representative of every state government;(v) three members representing the agro-based commerce and industry sector;15(vi) one representative of the farmers; and(vii) the secretary of the union ministry of agriculture who shall be ex-officio secretary to the board20(3)  the conditions of service, salaries and allowances of chairperson and other members of the board shall be such as may be prescribed(4) the board shall have such number of officers and staff as required for its efficient functioningduties of the board5  (1) it shall be the duty of the board to formulate policies and guidelines regarding welfare of the farmers(2) the board shall utilize the fund for the following purposes:—25(i) free education to the children of farmers;(ii) free medical facilities for farmers and their families;(iii) payment of disability allowance to farmers for injuries leading todisability sustained at work;(iv) life insurance cover to the farmers;30(v) compensation to the farmers or their families, as the case may be, in caseof accidents resulting in permanent disability or death;(vi)  payment of old age pension to the farmers; (vii) payment of subsistence allowance to the farmers during off-season; and35(viii) financial assistance to the farmers at the time of marriage of theirchildren, particularly daughterssurvey of farmers406 (1) every state government and the union territory  administration, shall conduct a district-wise survey, in such manner and with such details, as may be prescribed, of all farmers within their respective jurisdictions and cause the same to be published in such manner and form, as may be prescribed(2) any complaint or objection relating to inclusion or omission of name of any farmer shall be addressed to the district magistrate concerned who shall, after due inquiry, decide upon the rectification of the records7 (1) every bank and financial institution shall extend loans to farmers, whether for farming or personal needs, without seeking any mortgage or guarantee or putting any other conditionbanks to give loans to farmers without any guarantee5(2) the rate of interest charged on such loans shall not exceed four per cent simple interest per annum:provided that the rate of interest shall not be increased before five years from the commencement of this act and any subsequent increase in the rate of interest shall also not be made before a lapse of five yearspower to make rules108  the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of the act statement  of  objects  and  reasonseven though farmers and agriculture form the backbone of our economy, it is surprising that government does not have any proper policy for the welfare of farmers as well as their family members the condition of farmers who own small holding of land is even worse there are a few welfare schemes in existence but these have not resulted in any noticeable improvement in their living conditions there is no institutional arrangement to meet their credit needs for that, they have to depend upon the local bankers and mahajans who charge exorbitant rates of interest once in debt, it becomes very difficult for them to come out of this debt trap in some parts of the country, farmers are committing suicide as they are neck deep in debt if this trend is not reversed soon, it can be easily imagined  what is going to happen it may also threaten the food security which we have attained after a lot of strugglethere is need for providing a net of social  security for them banks and financial institutions should also provide loans to the farmers at low rates and without stringent conditions with regard to guarantee and mortgagethe bill seeks to achieve the above objectivesnew delhi;adhalrao  shivaji  patilnovember 8, 2006 financial  memorandumclause 3 of the bill provides for the setting up of a farmers welfare fund to which the central and state governments shall contribute in such proportion as may be prescribed clause 4 provides for the formation of a board to manage the fund clause 5 provides for the utilisation of fund for welfare measures of the farmers clause 6 provides for district-wise survey of all the farmers covered by the provisions of the bill the expenditure relating to states shall be brone out of the consolidated funds of the respective states however, the expenditure in respect of union territories shall be borne out of the consolidated fund of indiathe bill, therefore, if enacted, would involve expenditure from the consolidated fund of india it is estimated that an annual recurring expenditure of about rupees twenty thousand crores will be involveda non-recurring expenditure of about rupees twenty-five thousand crores would  also be involved memorandum  regarding  delegated  legislationclause 8 of the bill empowers the central government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of the bill as the rules will relate to matters of detail only, the delegation of legislative power is of a normal character lok  sabha———— a billto provide for the constitution of farmers welfare fund and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto————(shri  adhalrao shivaji patil, mp)mgipmrnd—217ls(s-2)—14022007