For the first time in the country, Kerala government has decided to set up a Welfare Fund Board for the farmers in the state. On Wednesday (7th October 2020), the state cabinet decided to form a board which will be known as 'Kerala Karshaka Kshemanidhi Board'.
The cabinet also decided that Dr P Rajendran will be the chairman of the Kerala Farmers Welfare Fund Board.
An official press release said that "This is the first time in the country that such a board has been formed for the welfare and uplift of farmers".
According the Kerala Karshaka Kshemanidhi Act, agriculture includes many things like horticulture, nursery management, medicinal plant cultivation, poultry, ducks, goats, rabbits, livestock, fish, ornamental fish, mussels, bees, silkworms and maintenance as well as use of land for such agricultural purposes.
A farmer who wants to become a member of the Board, will have to pay Rs 100 as registration fee along with a monthly fee of Rs 100.
The release further said that "Farmers can pay the monthly fee together for 6 months or 1 year. The government would provide an equivalent share of up to Rs 250 to the members of the Welfare Fund".
The Board members are entitled to medical assistance, personal pension, family pension, sickness benefit, disability benefit, education assistance & posthumous benefits marriage and maternity allowance. In addition, the benefit will be given for the marriage of female members as well as daughter’s of members of the Welfare Fund.
According to the Act, a farmer is an owner, sole proprietor, licensee, oral tenant, government land leaseholder who possess not less than 5 cents & not above 15 acres, with a yearly income of less than Rs 5 lakh.
