Uttar Pradesh increases daily for farm laborers wages to Rs 252, enhancing rural earnings and respect.
This step seeks to transform livelihoods at the community level.
A Fresh Beginning for Agricultural Workers: UP Raises Daily Minimum Wages to Rs 252, Aiming for Rural Renewal.
The Yogi Adityanath government has made a significant decision to boost the minimum daily wage for agricultural workers in rural Uttar Pradesh to ₹252, which equals ₹6,552 each month, potentially transforming the region’s economic structure.”
For millions toiling in the fields and related rural sectors, this isn’t just a number—it’s the promise of a more dignified life.
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The new wage hike, announced officially on July 25 by the state’s Labour and Employment Department, expands the definition of “agricultural work”
To include not only traditional farming but also related fields such as livestock farming, apiculture, mushroom farming, and crop transportation and distribution.
The broader inclusion reflects a shift in how rural labor is being valued—and revalued—in India’s most populous state.
A wider safety net for rural labor
This wage revision replaces the previous daily minimum of ₹240 and introduces a standardized compensation structure that will be enforced across all forms of agricultural labor.
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Importantly, the new framework guarantees that even temporary or part-time workers receive no less than one-sixth of the daily wage per hour—a safeguard long overdue in informal sectors.
What’s also significant is the range of payment methods now legitimized: cash, partial barter (in the form of farm produce), and digital transactions.
This multi-modal approach not only caters to rural realities but also nudges the agrarian economy closer to financial inclusion and transparency.
Respect, not just relief
“This isn’t charity—it’s a matter of respect,” said Dr. M.According to K. Shanmugam Sundaram, Principal Secretary of the Labour Department.
Agricultural laborers play a vital role in supporting our state’s economy.” By ensuring fair compensation, we’re taking a step toward real development—not just economic, but human.
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The initiative aligns with the central government’s larger “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” vision but adds a layer of local sensitivity.
The program supports the central government’s broader ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ mission while incorporating a focus on local needs.
By anchoring the policy in the everyday realities of rural workers, the UP government hopes to create not just jobs, but stable livelihoods.
Ground-level optimism—and cautionFarmers’ associations and local unions have welcomed the move, calling it a much-needed correction to wage stagnation in rural sectors.
“This will not only uplift workers but also create accountability among landowners and contractors,” said Surendra Pal, a Bareilly-based farm organizer.
Will the policy be enforced uniformly?
State officials claim strict monitoring mechanisms will be implemented, with penalties for non-compliance.
A digital wage tracking system is also being discussed to ensure timely disbursal and accountability.
A step, not the summit
While this wage hike marks a meaningful shift, experts argue it must be part of a larger ecosystem: skill training, healthcare, housing, and access to credit.
A higher wage is a start, but without systemic support, it risks becoming a short-lived fix.
Still, for now, the increase spells relief for the millions who work sunrise to sunset in the fields of Uttar Pradesh.
For them, ₹252 isn’t just a number it’s hope measured in rupees.
