Introduced in Lok Sabha Dec. 7, 2012 

Object and Reasons: About seventy per cent. of the population of the country lives in villages out of which approximately ninety per cent. people are engaged in agricultural activities. The economic condition of farmers have remained more or less unchanged so, far. They are always trapped in the vicious cycle of debt and the debt burden passes on to their next generation. The farmers always live in penury and remain apprehensive of their future. Therefore, the Government should take the responsibility of providing them their minimum requirements so as to enable them to perform their agricultural activities. The farmers work not only for earning their livelihood but they also provide succour to the entire nation. Of late, the incidents of committing suicides by the debt ridden farmers have increased manifold. Such cases of suicides can be avoided by providing certain facilities to farmers. If the farmers are provided with agricultural inputs at reasonable rates, the agricultural production will increase manifold which will ultimately benefit not only the farmers but the whole nation. Besides, certain other welfare measures like insurance, health service and financial assistance to farmers will go a long way to alleviate their sufferings. Therefore, the Bill seeks to provide certain basic facilities like compensation, insurance cover, health services to farmers and their family members. It also provides for supply of good quality seeds, pesticides, manure and fertilizers and uninterrupted power and water supply, etc. to farmers for agricultural activities at reasonable cost so that they may carry out agricultural activities in an efficient manner without any hurdle. Hence this Bill.