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MR. SPEAKER:  You cannot have all this.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI G. KARUNAKARA REDDY :  I am asking the same question. I would like to know as to when the Government is likely to arrive at a final decision in this regard.

SHRI OSCAR FERNANDES:  I am happy to mention here that in October, 2007 , we had recommended to the State Governments that the National Floor Level Mininum Wage with effect from 01.09.2007 will be Rs.80/- from the present Rs.66/- per day.  This is within the purview of the State Governments.  We make the recommendations and the State Governments accept the same.  As far as amendment is concerned, we are deliberating on this issue and we need time to consider this.

MR. SPEAKER: Mr. Minister, if you have information, give it to him. 

SHRI OSCAR FERNANDES: In the first instance, we have decided to cover the poor people in the country who are below the poverty level and the poor people will be covered under the Bima Yojana. In the next round, we will cover various categories of people, who are earning wages and those who are above the poverty level, in different schemes, which are brought before the Boards. We would try to extend them to the poor people.

SHRI OSCAR FERNANDES: Having a uniform wage throughout the country will be quite difficult because the conditions of work in different States are different. The conditions of work in North East are different than the conditions of work in Kerala. Practically there is no worker available in Kerala because the people of Kerala are going abroad and are earning. This is the situation. So, it may be difficult for us, to have a uniform wage, in one stroke. But we have issued a floor price and on the basis of that floor price, the State Governments will have to decide what wages they should have for the State.

MR. SPEAKER: No. Sorry. This is for wages.

SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI : It is about farm labour.

MR. SPEAKER: Maybe. I share your concern and I appreciate it. But there should be some relevance to the question.

            Mr. Minister, are you willing to answer now?

SHRI OSCAR FERNANDES: Sir, the point is that the agricultural labourers do not have work throughout the year. So, under the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, we have brought in a scheme under the Agriculture Ministry, whereby 100 days of guaranteed employment is given. With that, we are able to, to some extent, help the farmers in the country and the agricultural labourers.