RURAL LABOUR ENQUIRY (61^st Round of N.S.S.) 2004–05 REPORT ON EMPLOYMENT & UNEMPLOYMENT OF RURAL LABOUR HOUSEHOLDS ( MAIN REPORT)

CHAPTER - III

NATURE AND EXTENT OF EMPLOYMENT

1.         INTRODUCTION

            Unemployment is a situation where a person who is able and willing to work at prevailing rate, yet is unable to find a job. Unemployment costs to the society in terms of poverty, crime, physical and mental health, political instability, etc. The data on employment is one of the most important indicators of the well being and level of living of households as well as level of development of an economy. Unemployment has two facets viz. (i) rural unemployment and (ii) urban unemployment. As the title of the report suggests, this chapter describes the extent of employment/unemployment in rural areas. An attempt has also been made to study labour time disposition in terms of wage-paid employment, employment on salary basis and self employment among men, women and child workers belonging to rural/agricultural labour households. The persons who are engaged in their own farm or non-farm enterprises are taken to be self-employed. The wage-paid employment of those labourers whose usual occupation is agricultural labour has further been bifurcated into agricultural and non-agricultural employments.  All these aspects of rural employment/unemployment have been studied in the following sections one by one.

2.      LABOUR TIME DISPOSITION OF USUALLY OCCUPIED PERSONS

a)  Rural Labour Households

            The data relating to labour time disposition of usually occupied workers belonging to rural labour households have been presented in Statements 3.1.1 to 3.2.4.  The summary figures of average number of days worked as well as days not worked in a full year, in respect of men, women and child workers belonging to rural labour households have also been presented below in table 3.1 (a) :

Table 3.1 (a)

Labour Time Disposition of Usually Occupied Persons belonging to Rural Labour Households by sex and classes during 2004–05

(In number of days)            

            It may be seen that the usually occupied men, women and child workers belonging to all the four social groups of rural labour households remained employed during the major part of the year 2004–05. The average annual number of days worked by men, women and child workers belonging to all classes of rural labour households was of the order of 291, 250 and 286 days, respectively.  The men, women and child workers belonging to scheduled castes rural labour households remained employed for 285, 245 and 278 days, respectively and men, women and child workers belonging to scheduled tribes rural labour households remained employed for 302, 256 and 278 days, respectively. Like-wise, men, women and child workers belonging to the backward classes remained employed for 290, 249 and 293 days, respectively, during the year 2004–05.

Among different modes of employment, the ‘wage-paid employment’ formed the major mode of employment for all the workers belonging to all the four groups of rural labour households except for child workers belonging to Scheduled Tribe Rural Labour Households where self–employment was observed to be the prime mode of employment. Next in order came the ‘self-employment’ followed by ‘employment on salary basis’.  The wage-paid employment accounted for around 74 per cent, 71 per cent and 57 per cent of the total number of days worked by men, women and child workers belonging to all classes of rural labour households respectively.  Among scheduled castes men, women and child workers, wage employment accounted for 77 per cent, 77 per cent and 64 per cent of the total number of days worked, respectively. Among men, women and child workers belonging to scheduled tribes rural labour households, wage employment accounted for  71 per cent, 67 per cent and 48 per cent, respectively. Among other backward classes, the wage employment separately for male and female workers, accounted for 73 per cent and 69 per cent, whereas for child workers, it accounted for around 55 per cent  of  the total number of days worked.

            As regards the unemployment, it may be seen that the major part of the days not worked by usually occupied persons belonging to rural labour households during 2004–05 was due to non-availability of work.  Number of days not worked due to non-availability of work accounted for 62 per cent, 35 per cent and 52 per cent of the total number of days not worked, respectively, by men, women and child workers belonging to all classes of rural labour households.  It accounted for 66 per cent, 40 per cent and 61 per cent of total number of days not worked, respectively, by men, women and child workers belonging to scheduled caste rural labour households.  Corresponding figures for men, women and child workers belonging to scheduled tribes rural labour households were 51 per cent, 26 per cent and 39 per cent and  that for other backward classes  rural labour households it was 64 per cent, 36 per cent and 53 per cent.

            As in the case of all occupations, the wage paid employment formed the major mode of employment of men, women and child workers belonging to all classes of rural labour households, who reported their occupation as ‘agricultural labour’ and ‘non-agricultural labour’.  Wage employment accounted for 84 per cent of the total number of days worked by male workers reporting their occupation as ‘agricultural labour’ and 69 per cent of the total number of days worked by male workers reporting their occupation as ‘non-agricultural labour’. In case of men, women and child workers, reporting their occupation as ‘other occupation’, self employment was observed to be the major mode of employment.  Self- employment accounted for 60 per cent, 86 per cent and 88 per cent of the total number of days worked, respectively, by men, women and child workers belonging to this occupation group.    Employment pattern of workers belonging to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes rural labour households followed almost similar pattern as observed in case of all classes of rural labour households.

b)  Agricultural Labour Households

            The details of employment and unemployment in respect of usually occupied workers belonging to agricultural labour households have been presented in Statements 3.1.1 to 3.1.4. The summary figures (all occupations taken together) of average number of days worked as well as days not worked during 2004–05 by men, women and child workers belonging to agriculture labour households are given below in table 3.1 (b).

Table 3.1 (b)

Labour Time Disposition of Usually Occupied Persons belonging to Agricultural Labour Households by Sex and Classes during 2004–05

                                                                                          (In number of days)            

Since agricultural labour households constituted majority of the rural labour households, employment pattern of agricultural labour households broadly followed the similar pattern as that of rural labour households. 

3.         WAGE PAID EMPLOYMENT OF USUALLY OCCUPIED WORKERS

a)  Rural Labour Households

            State-wise details of days of wage-paid employment of usually occupied workers belonging to rural labour households have been presented in statements 3.3.1.1.1 to 3.3.1.4.3 Summary of sex/class-wise wage employment of usually occupied rural labour household workers is given below in table 3.2 (a).

Table 3.2 (a)

Sex and Class-wise Wage-paid Employment of Usually Occupied Workers belonging to Rural Labour Households during 1999-2000 &  2004–05

                                                                  (in number of days)

It may be seen from the summary table that during 2004–05, number of days worked in wage-paid employment ( all occupations) in respect of men, women and child workers belonging to all classes of rural labour households was of the order of 215, 177 and 164 days, respectively. Amongst workers in different occupations, male, female and child agricultural labourers were engaged for larger number of days in wage-paid employment as compared to their counterparts in ‘non-agriculture’ and ‘other occupations’.   Average annual number of days of wage employment for men, women and child agricultural labourers belonging to all classes of rural labour households were 239, 203 and 222 days, respectively. Comparable figures for non-agricultural labourers were 203, 214 and 214 days as against 87, 27 and 30 days for workers engaged in other occupations. In all the major states, almost similar trend of wage-paid employment was noticed as was observed in the case of all-India.  In case of all classes of rural labour households, among major states, Andhra Pradesh (218), Assam (233), Bihar (266), Gujarat (241), Haryana (235), Karnataka (239), Punjab (229), Tamil Nadu (224) and West Bengal (218) reported higher duration of wage-paid employment  (all occupations) in respect of male workers  than the national average of 215 days. For women workers, the states of Andhra Pradesh (181), Assam (252), Bihar (207), Gujarat (193), Karnataka (213), Maharashtra (188), Punjab (208) Tamil Nadu (184) and West Bengal (182) reported higher duration of wage-paid employment than the national average of 177 days.  In the case of child workers, all major states except Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh reported higher duration of wage-paid employment as compared to  the national average of 164 days.

            As in case of all classes of rural labour households, male agricultural labourers belonging to scheduled caste households also remained employed for larger number of days as compared to their counterparts in ‘non-agricultural labour’ and ‘other occupations’.  The wage-paid employment  of men, women and child agricultural labourers belonging to scheduled castes rural labour households were of the order of 240, 207 and 237 days respectively.  Corresponding figures for non-agricultural labourers were 205, 229 and 211 days as against 91, 29 and 36 days, for workers engaged in other occupations.  Among major states, Andhra Pradesh (222), Bihar (271), Gujrat (260), Haryana (250), Karnataka (253), Orissa (226), Punjab (234), Rajasthan (229)  and Tamil Nadu  (225)  reported higher duration of wage-paid employment than the national average of 220 days in respect of men workers belonging to scheduled castes rural labour households.  In case of women workers, the states viz. Andhra Pradesh (192), Assam (236), Bihar (218), Gujrat (232), Karnataka (218),Kerala (198), Maharashtra (201) and Tamil Nadu (201) reported higher duration of wage-paid employment than the national average of 189 days.  In the case of child workers, Andhra Pradesh (221), Bihar (340), Gujarat (204), Haryana (252), Maharashtra (218), Orissa (212), Punjab (188) and West Bengal (229) reported higher duration of wage-employment than the national average of 178 days.

            In case of scheduled tribes households also, male, female and child workers  engaged in ‘agricultural labour’ had higher duration of wage employment than their counter-parts in ‘non-agricultural labour’ and ‘other occupations’. Average annual number of days of wage-paid employment in respect of men, women and child workers engaged in ‘agricultural labour’ were 241, 199 and 186 days, respectively.  Comparable figures for non-agricultural labourers were 188, 199 and 222 days as against 83, 36 and 38 days for workers engaged in ‘other occupations’.   All major states except Assam (196), Kerala (187), Maharashtra (201),Orissa (184), Rajasthan (201) and Uttar Pradesh (172) reported higher duration of wage-paid employment than the national average of 213 days in respect of men workers engaged in all occupations.  In case of women workers also the duration of wage-paid employment in all the major states were higher than the all-India average of 172 days except  Bihar (86), Kerala (148), Orissa (142), and Rajasthan (70).  However, for child workers belonging to schedule tribes, all the major states except Madhya Pradesh (95), Orissa (79) and  Rajasthan (63) reported higher duration of wage-paid employment than the all-India average of 133 days. In the case of other backward classes, the average annual number of days of wage-paid employment for men, women and  child workers in ‘agricultural labour’ were 235, 198 and 220 days. The corresponding figures for ‘non-agriculture labour’ were 202, 210 and 165 days as against 83, 23 and 22 days for workers engaged in other occupations.

            For male workers of rural labour household of other backward classes, the states of Andhra Pradesh (216), Assam (282), Bihar (259), Gujarat (244), Karnataka (224), Punjab (217), Tamil Nadu (225) and West Bengal (218) reported higher duration of wage-paid employment (all occupation) than the national average of 211 days. For women workers of  rural labour households, the states of Andhra Pradesh (173), Assam (265), Bihar (196), Gujarat (188), Karnataka (210), Maharashtra (184), Orissa (186), Punjab (280), Tamil Nadu (173) and West Bengal (184) reported higher duration of wage-paid employment than the national average of 172 days. However, in the case of child workers, all the major states, except Madhya Pradesh (82), Orissa (51), Rajasthan (56), and Uttar Pradesh (63) reported higher duration of wage-paid employment than the national average of 162 days.

b)  Agricultural Labour Households

             Relevant details  of  wage-paid employment in respect of men, women and child workers  belonging to agricultural  labour  households are given in statements 3.3.2.1.1 to 3.3.2.4.3.  The summary of sex/class-wise data on wage paid employment of usually occupied  workers  belonging to  agricultural  labour households  are given below in table 3.2 (b).

Table 3.2 (b)

Sex and Class-wise Wage-paid Employment of Usually Occupied Workers belonging to Agricultural Labour Households during 1999-2000 & 2004–05

                                                                                                                                    (in number of days)

As agriculture labour households constituted major part of the rural labour households, the position regarding the duration of wage-paid employment in respect of usually occupied persons belonging to agricultural labour households, as expected, was almost similar to one observed in the case of rural labour households.

  4.         WAGE-PAID EMPLOYMENT OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS IN

 AGRICULTURAL  AND NON-AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS

a)  Rural Labour Households

            State-wise details of wage-paid employment of men, women and child agricultural labourers belonging to rural labour households in respect of agricultural and non-agricultural employments are depicted in statements 3.4.1.1.1  to 3.4.1.4.3.   Summary of sex/ class-wise number of days of wage employment of agricultural labourers, separately for agricultural and non-agricultural occupations, in respect of rural labour households are given below in table 3.3 (a).

 Table 3.3 (a)

Average Number of Days of Wage-paid Employment of Agricultural Labourers belonging to Rural Labour Households in Agricultural and Non-agricultural Operations

                                                                         (in number of days)

             It may be seen that the agricultural labourers besides being mainly employed in agricultural occupations were also marginally engaged in non-agricultural pursuits.  The data for 2004–05 shows that out of a total of 239 days of wage-paid employment, the male agricultural labourers in rural labour households were employed in agricultural occupations for 228 days i.e. around 95 per cent of total days of wage-paid employment.  Respective figures for male agricultural labourers belonging to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes households were 95, 94 and 96 percent.

            Likewise, the women and child agricultural labourers were also marginally engaged in non-agricultural occupations.  The extent of non-agricultural employment for women was of the order of 4, 5, 8 and 3 days respectively for all classes, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes households.   It may also be seen from the summary table that the duration of wage-paid employment of men, women & child workers in agricultural labour occupations have witnessed a decrease for all the four groups of rural labour households in 2004–05 over 1999–2000, whereas, the duration of non-agricultural employment has increased except for the child workers of all classes and women workers of other backward classes where it remained constant at  previous round level of 5 days and 3 days respectively.

b)  Agricultural Labour Households

            State-wise details of wage-paid employment in agricultural and non-agricultural operations in respect of men, women and child agricultural labourers belonging to agricultural labour households are presented in statements 3.4.2.1.1 to 3.4.2.4.3. Summary of Sex/class wise number of days of wage-paid employment of agricultural labourers belonging to agricultural labour households, separately for agriculture and non-agricultural operations, are given below in table 3.3 (b).

Table 3.3 (b)

Average Number of Days of Wage-paid Employment of Agricultural Labourers belonging to Agricultural Labour Households in Agricultural and Non-agricultural Operations

                                                                                                                                (in number of days)

As majority of the rural labour households belonged to agricultural labour households, it is noticed that duration of wage paid employments of agricultural labour households also followed similar pattern as observed in case of rural labour households except for the child agricultural workers of Scheduled Castes which showed an increase in duration of wage-paid employment over the previous round survey.

5.         WAGE-PAID EMPLOYMENT OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS IN DIFFERENT AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS

a)  Rural Labour Households

            Distribution of duration of wage-paid agricultural employment in different agricultural operations in respect of usually occupied men, women and child workers belonging to all households, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes of rural labour households is given in statements 3.5.1.1 to 3.5.1.4.  It may be seen from the tables that among the specified agricultural operations, the ‘harvesting’ followed by ‘weeding’ provided the maximum days of wage-paid employment to the men workers belonging to all the four groups of households during 2004–05 survey.  The relevant figures for ‘men’ workers in ‘harvesting’ operation for all classes, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes  households were 32, 36, 32 and 31 days and for ‘weeding’ it was 14, 14, 16 and 12 respectively.  In case of women workers ‘weeding’ was the primary occupation where these worker put maximum days in wage paid employment in respect of all classes, scheduled castes, and other backward classes  households and the ‘harvesting’ was the second best wage paid employment.  But for scheduled tribe women workers ‘harvesting’ was the primary/main occupation and the weeding’ was the next best wage-paid employment.  The figures of wage-paid employment in ‘weeding’ operation separately for all classes, scheduled castes and other backward classes female workers were 39, 41 and 40 days and for harvesting it was 35, 41 and 33 days  respectively.  For scheduled tribes women workers the figures were 35 days for harvesting and 31 days for weeding occupation.   In case of child workers of the three group of households of all classes, scheduled castes and other backward classes the ‘weeding’ was the dominant occupation with wage-paid employment of 31, 34 and 36 days followed by ‘harvesting’ with 24, 26 and 24 days respectively.  For scheduled tribe households the respective figures were 30 days for harvesting and 17 days for weeding operation.

b)  Agricultural labour households

            Information on per person wage-paid employment in respect of usually occupied men, women and child workers belonging to all classes, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes agricultural labour households is given in statements 3.5.2.1 to 3.5.2.4.  As agricultural labour households constituted majority of the rural labour households, the trends were almost similar to the one observed in case of rural labour households.

6.         SELF-EMPLOYMENT OF USUALLY OCCUPIED PERSONS

a)   Rural Labour Households

            State-wise details of self-employment of usually occupied workers belonging to all classes, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes rural labour households are given in Statements 3.6.1.1.1 to 3.6.1.4.3. Summary of the information on average annual days of self-employment of usually occupied workers belonging to rural labour households is given in table 3.4 (a).

 Table 3.4 (a)

Average Annual Days of Self-employment of Usually Occupied Persons belonging to Rural Labour Households

                                                                                                                                     (in number of days)

The  data for 2004–05 reveals that cultivation of owned or leased-in land by rural labour households was the main occupation as self employment for male and female workers as it accounted for self employment of 32 days (out of a total of 51 days) in respect of usually occupied male workers and 33 days (out of 64 days) in respect of female workers belonging to all classes of rural labour households.   However,  in case of  child workers belonging to same group of  households,  the occupation  ‘other than cultivation’  provided   maximum days of self employment (62  out of 104 days).  Among major states, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh recorded higher duration of self-employment for men workers belonging to all households than the national average of 51 days.

             In case of workers belonging to scheduled caste rural labour households, it is observed that male workers were engaged for longer duration in cultivation whereas the child workers remained engaged  for longer duration in occupations “other than cultivation”  during the year 2004–05.  The women workers were equally engaged in both the occupations.  The extent of self-employment in cultivation for male, female and child workers belonging to scheduled castes households was 24 days each (out of a total duration of 41, 48 & 85 days respectively).  Among major states, in respect of men workers, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal recorded higher duration of self-employment than the national average of 41 days.

As in the case of all classes of households, self-employed male and female workers belonging to scheduled tribes households were also engaged in ‘cultivation’ for longer duration, whereas the child workers remained employed in occupations ‘other than cultivation’ for comparatively longer period during the year 2004–05.  The male and female workers belonging to scheduled tribes households remained employed in ‘cultivation’ for 50 and 53 days (out of total self-employment of 66 and 75 days), respectively.  However, the child workers belonging to same group of households were engaged in cultivation for 64 days (out of a total duration of 135 days) as self employment.  Among major states, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Orissa and Rajasthan reported higher duration of self-employment than the national average of 66 days in respect of men workers belonging to scheduled tribes rural labour households.

            Self-employed male workers belonging to other backward classes remained employed for higher duration (i.e. 33 days out of 54 days) in  cultivation, whereas female and child workers remained self-employed for longer duration (i.e. for 35 days and 60 days out of 67 and 106 days respectively) in “other than cultivation” operations. Among major states,  Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal reported longer duration of self employment than the national average of 54 days in respect of male workers belonging to OBC rural labour households.

b)  Agricultural Labour Households

            State-wise data of self-employment in respect of usually occupied men, women and child workers belonging to agricultural labour households are given in statements 3.6.2.1.1 to 3.6.2.4.3. The summary of information on average annual days of self employment of usually occupied workers belonging to agricultural labour households is given in table 3.4 (b).

Table 3.4 (b)

Average Annual Days of Self-employment of Usually Occupied Persons belonging to Agricultural Labour Households

                                                                                                                                 (in number of days)