 bill no 36 of  2010 the farmers (old age pension) bill, 2010 byadv pt thomas, mp a billto provide for old age pension to small and marginal farmers and for matters connected therewith or incidental theretobe it enacted by parliament in the sixty-first year of the republic of india as follows:—1 (1) this act may be called the farmers (old age pension) act, 2010(2) it extends to the whole of india except the state of jammu and kashmirshort title, extent and commencementdefinitions2 in this act, unless the context otherwise requires,—(i) "appropriate government" means a state government or union territory administration, as the case may be;5(ii) "farmer" means a person possessing agricultural land measuring not more than five acres and has no income from any source other than agriculture;(iii) "fund" means the farmers' old age pension fund constituted under section 3; and(iv) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this act3 (1) the central government shall constitute a fund to be known as the farmers'old age pension fund for the purpose of payment of old age pension to farmers10constitution of the farmers' old age pension fund(2) the central government and the state governments shall contribute to the fund in such ratio as may be prescribedmaintenance of register of farmers4 (1) the appropriate government shall within six months from the commencement of this act, provide for maintenance of a register of farmers in every district with all necessary details in such manner as may be prescribed15(2) the appropriate government shall forward the details of farmers registered under sub-section (1) to the central government from time to time5 the central government shall release monies out of the fund to the appropriate government on the basis of information received under section 4release of funds to the appropriate government20entitlement of pension6 (1) every farmer who has attained the age of sixty years and registered with appropriate government shall be entitled to a monthly old age pension which shall be equivalent to thirty times the daily wage  prevalent in the state in which the farmer resides(2) the old age pension shall be paid to farmers through nationalized banks 7 the central government may give such directions to the state governments as it may think necessary for the purposes of this act25directions to the state governments power to make rules8 (1) the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of the act30 35(2) every rule made under this act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each house of parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both the houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule statement of objects and reasonsagriculture is the mainstay of the livelihood of our rural population and it contributes immensely towards the growth of our national economy but the living conditions of majority of small and marginal farmers have not improved over the years they live in abject poverty when they attain old age, their sufferings increase as they are not in a position to do any work the large chunk of these farmers own only a few acres of land and since the yield depends upon vagaries of weather, they always live hand to mouth therefore, it is necessary to provide some social security in the form of old age pension to the farmershence this billnew delhi;february 23,  2010 financial  memorandumclause 3 of the bill provides for setting up of a fund to be known as the farmers' old age pension fund to pay old age pension to the small and marginal farmers to which the central government and the state governments shall contribute in such ratio as may be prescribed clause 5 provides that the central government shall release monies out of the fund to the state governments for payment of old age pension to farmers clause 6 provides for monthly old age pension to every farmer who has attained the age of sixty years the bill, therefore, if enacted, will involve expenditure from the consolidated fund of indiait is likely to involve a recurring expenditure of about rupees two thousand crore per annuma non-recurring expenditure of about rupees one hundred crore is also likely to be incurred 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 old age pension to small and marginal farmers and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto—————(adv pt thomas,  mp)gmgipmrnd—1060ls(s5)—12-03-2010