the 23rd november, 2012 bill no xxxiv of  2012 the sugarcane growers (remunerative price and welfare)  bill, 2012 abillto provide for the remunerative price for the produce of the sugarcane growers, insurance of sugarcane crop free of cost and for their overall welfare and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto be it enacted by the parliament in the sixty-third year of  the republic of india as follows:—1 (1) this act may be called the sugarcane growers (remunerative price and welfare)act, 2012short title, extent and commencement5(2) it extends to the whole of indiain the official gazette, appoint2 in this act, unless the context otherwise requires,—definitions(a) "sugarcane grower" means any person who cultivates sugarcane; and (b) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this act3 (1) it shall be the duty of the central government to procure the entire sugarcane produced in the country through an agency to be set up for the purpose5(2) the central government shall fix the price of sugarcane every year after taking into consideration,—procurement of sugarcane and fixation of its remunerative price(i) the increase in the price of seeds, pesticides and fertilizers and other inputs; (ii) total investment of the sugarcane growers; and10(iii) such other factors as may be prescribedinsurance of sugarcane and its growers 4  the entire crop of sugarcane and its growers shall be compulsorily insured free of cost by the central government against natural calamities, fall in the yield of sugarcane, fall in the price of sugarcane and such other eventualities as may be prescribed155 (1) the central government shall set up a fund to be known as the sugarcane growers welfare fundsugarcane growers welfare fund(2) the central government and the state governments shall contribute to the fund in such ratio as may be prescribedutilisation of fund6 the sugarcane growers welfare fund shall be used for the following purposes, namely:—20(a) to provide financial assistance to sugarcane growers for purchasing sugarcane seeds, pesticides and fertilizers, and in case of low yields of sugarcane or loss of their crops due to rains, storms, floods, hailstorms and drought;(b) to pay compensation to the next of kin of sugarcane growers in the event of their death;(c) to pay life insurance premium on behalf of the sugarcane growers;25(d) to provide free health facilities for sugarcane growers and their families; (e) to provide assistance to the sugarcane growers in the event of disability; (f) to compensate the farmer(s) suitably in case as yield being less than estimated; and30(g) for such other purposes as may be prescribed by the central governmentpower to make rules7 the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this act statement  of  objects  and  reasonssugarcane is a cash crop it is cultivated in various states in the country it is a crop of the whole year and it is one of the major materials to produce sugar the sugarcane growers are facing problems, as they are not getting remunerative price for their produce sugarcane growing has become a non-profitable agricultural activity due to increase in the prices of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides and other inputs and the prices of sugarcane produce have not increased in the same proportion there is demand the price of the sugarcane be fixed on the basis of cost of production and price of sugar to meet the demand that sufficient production of sugarcane is necessary it is possible, if, the growers get remunerative price for sugarcane sugarcane growers have to go for loans as the investment in the cultivation has gone up they are also not getting payment of their produce on time this has led to their indebtedness and when they are unable to repay loans, they take the extreme step of committing suicide or self immolations further, due to unremunerative price for sugarcane, the aggrieved sugarcane growers are forced to abandon sugarcane farming in favour of other crops resulting in decline in the growth of sugarcane productionthe government is required to provide remunerative price and also immediate relief to sugarcane growers in the event of natural calamities like storm, heavy rains, drought, hailstorm and flood so that sugarcane growers can feel respite there is an urgent need to enact a law, which can ensure governmental assistance to sugarcane growers in the event of fall in prices or damage to their crops therefore, setting up of a fund for sugarcane growers and provision of insurance scheme for them will prove to be beneficial an agency is also required to be set up by the central government to procure the sugarcane producethe bill, if enancted, will protect the interests and promote the welfare of the sugarcane growers in the country and will help growth of the sugarcane production in the country in a big wayhence this billshadi  lal  batra financial  memorandumclause 3 of the bill provides for procurement of sugarcane from sugarcane growers by an agency to be set up by the central government and fixation of remunerative prices for sugarcane by the central government clause 4 provides for compulsory free insurance of sugarcane and its growers by the central government against natural calamities clause 5 of the bill provides for setting up of a sugarcane growers welfare fund to which the central government and the state governments shall contribute in such ratio, as may be prescribedthe bill, therefore, if enacted, would involve expenditure from the consolidated fund of india though, it is not possible to quantify the actual expenditure at this juncture, but it is estimated that a recurring expenditure of about rupees five thousand crore may be incurred per annuma non-incurring annual expenditure of about rupees one thousand crore is also likely to be incurred on it memorandum  regarding  delegated  legislationclause 7 of the bill gives power to the central government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of the bill the rules will relate to matters of details only the delegation of legislative power is of normal character———— a billto provide for the remunerative price for the produce of the sugarcane growers, insurance of sugarcane crop free of cost and for their overall welfare and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto————(shri shadi lal batra, mp)