Chapter-11

Summary and Conclusion

Objective -

The present study has been undertaken with the purpose of

knowing the socio-economic conditions of agricultural labour in
Keonjhar district. The study throws light on the characteristics and
the problems of agricultural labour, their conditions of working,
earning, consumption, saving and economic and social needs.

The main objectives of the study of the socio-economic

condition of Agricultural labourer in Keonjhar district are -

(i) to estimate wage earnings of agricultural labour.

(ii) highlight employment condition. «

(iii) evaluate the family condition and their position in society.

(iv) asses the impact of infrastructural and other factor on the

productivity and earning of labourers

(v) measure the effect of the economic policy adopted by the

government to uplift the standard of living of agricultural
labourer.

Sample design -

The study covers the rural areas of Keonjhar district. There are 13
development blocks in the district and one block was selected at
random for the study. There are 20 village panchayata in this block
( Ghasipura block) and one village was selected from each
Village Panehayata at random for the study. The sample of the study
consisted of 20 villages which were selected on a simple random

sampling method out of 165 villages in the Block which have

agricultural labourer. The sample villages represented 12.13

percent of total villages. Thus, the sample villages were fairly
representative of the various types of socio-economic conditions

prevailing in different parts of the block. From each sample village

15 agricultural labour households were selected and the total

number of agricultural household is 300 and the number of workers

are 336. The main enquiry was conducted from early January 2001

to the end of December 2001.

Sample Villages -

The area covered by the sample villages constitutes 0.60 percent

of the total area of the district and 14.40 percent of the total area
of the Block. The total cultivated land in the sample villages is 1.07

percent of the total cultivated land of the district and 15.10 percent
of the total cultivated land of the block. The area under food crops

is 53.99 percent of the total shown area of the sample villages,

46.00 percent of the commercial crop area. A cultivator in the
sample villages owns 2.13 acres of land on an average.

Over the period the numerical importance of agricultural

labourer is declining in relation to the number of cultivators. The

share of cultivated land per agricultural labourers is also declining
due to an increase in the number of agricultural labourers and also

to smaller operational holdings. The tendency to employ hired

labour is diminishing as cultivators of small holdings go on replacing

hired labour by family labour.Therefore it appears that the impact

of changes in the agricultural sector has been quite significant on

the agricultural labourers.

Migration in Sample Households -

The migration both permanent and temporary of agricultural

labour households is found to be negligible in sample agricultural

villages. No doubt the sample agricultural labour households have

a desire for upliftment of economic condition and for that they want
to migrate for better opportunity for employment and earning. But

practically during the survey it has been found out-migration of the

agricultural labour households is completely absent due to factors

like family ties, less absorption capacity of non farm sectors,

difficulties in acquiring skill and experience suited to other

occupations. The absence of socio-economic incentives to mobility

of labour has also discouraged the shifts of agricultural labour

households to non-agricultural households.

Agricultural labour Households with Land -

The study depecits that 15.33 percent of agricultural households

possess land, the average size of which comes to only 0.94 acres.
The average size of land is too small to help an agricultural labour

household to improve economic condition. However the agricultural

labour households who are in possession of land are in a better
condition than those who do not possess land. Possession of

land helps the agricultural labour households in many ways.

Firstly it enables the family to procure an additional income however

meagre it may be in addition to wage income. Secondly the

agricultural labourer engage himself in cultivation while he has no
wage employment. Thirdly the agricultural labour family considers
land as an asset and possession of it strengthen its financial

capacity. He can even sell a piece of land at the time of financial

need like social ceremonies. Similarly those who are in possession

of land can easily incur a loan from financial institutions because

land is accepted as a valuable mortgage.

Caste - The agricultural labourer mostly belong to the lower strata

of the society. 86.33 percent of sample households belong to

scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The proportion of non-

scheduled caste households is small being 12.66 percent. The

scheduled cast agricultural labour constitute 47.00 percent while

the scheduled tribes constitutes 39.33 percent. In the scheduled

caste category ‘Harijan’ is the largest group constituting 44.33

percent of the scheduled caste agricultural labour household.
Similarly ‘Sabar’ is the largest group among scheduled tribes
constituting 25.33 percent of households. Among the non-

scheduled caste and non-scheduled tribe household Khandayata

form 3,66 percent household, the largest in the group. In the sample
village all the agricultural labour households belong to Hindu
religion.

Size of family - A family is a household with a group of persons

living under the same roof having one common kitchen. It however

includes temporary absentees but excludes guests. The study

reveals that the average number of members per agricultural
household is 4.91. The average size of household in sample village
is relatively small. This is due to disintegration in lower caste
households as a result of casual employment in the members ,
their low incomes and increasing pressure to manage a big family.

25.33 percent households have five members which is the largest

group in sample village. Thus the system of joint families which is
supposed to provide the facilities of division of labour and a sense

of security and co-operations is gradually disintegrating .

The study reveals that in the sample household out of the

total population 51.49 percent are males and 48.50 percent are
females. Similarly 37.38 percent of the total population are children
upto the age of 15 years.

Educational Standard Literacy is one of the important aspect

-

for demographic analysis. The literacy rate is calculated in the

sample agricultural household during the investigation. Literacy rate

has been calculated by excluding the population in the age group

0-6 from the total population. 54.82 percent of members of

agricultural labour households are found to be literate. Male literacy

is 64.55 % and female literacy is 44.77%. Similarly 45.17% of

members of agricultural labour households are found to be illiterate.
Male illiteracy is 35.44 percent and female illiteracy is 55.22

percent. The study also reveals that the total population of 0-6 age
group is 15.60 percent of the total population in the sample
household.
Family Background of Agricultural Labourers -

84.66 percent of agricultural labourers come from landless labour

families whose economic condition is very weak. They depend on

wage income to earn their living. Only 15.33 percent of agricultural

labourers do possess land. The average area of land owned comes
to 0.94 acres per sample household. The size is too small to support
and to improve the economic condition of agricultural labourers. 47.00

percent agricultural labourer belong to scheduled caste and 39.33

percent to scheduled tribe. The percentage of non-scheduled caste

and non scheduled tribe agricultural labourer is only 13.66 percent.

Female and Child Labour - The female labour forms a small

part of the total agricultural labour force on account of social

customs. In very few specific operations the female force work as

labourer. Similarly child labour is not at all significant except that

some children are found to assist their parents in the field during
the busy season of sowing and harvesting . In case of piece work

or in contract work children are found to assist their parents in the

fields to complete the work in shorter time . They are not paid any

remuneration by the cultivators and work only as helpers. The

female and child member of the family are engaged to take meal
and agricultural equipment necessary for agricultural operations

to the field for which they never get remuneration.

Demand and Supply of Labour - The seasonality of the

agricultural field directly influences the demand and supply of
agricultural labourers. The demand for agricultural labourers often
much greater than the supply of agricultural labourers at the time

of peak season of agricultural operations. Thus, the demand for

agricultural labourers is mostly seasonal and operational and the

supply position is mostly localised.

The demand for agricultural labourers on the whole has not

increased as there has not been increase in the area of cultivation.

The increase in irrigated area and greater use of modern inputs

such as fertilisers, betterseeds and implements have not resulted

in higher demand for agricultural labourers. However, double

cropping and prodution of high yielding variety of crop increase
the demand for agricultural labourer.

The demand for agricultural labourers is more susceptible

to time factors. In busy season the cultivators feel the shortage of

labour for operations like sowing , planting and harvesting but in
slack season the supply of agricultural labourer remains much
greater than the demand for labour.

Regular and Casual Labourer - Of the total agricultural

labourers, the regular agricultural labourers form only 30.95 percent

and the casual labourers form 69.04 percent. The regular

agricultural labourers are mostly younger than the casual labourers.

There are no remarkable difference in the caste and education of

the two and both types of labourers are found to depend on the
cultivators for many of their requirements . The change-over to
other cultivators is more occasional and frequent now than a few
decades back due to dislike of the regular labourers for domestic

work and long working hours. Now the regular agricultural labourers
show some resistance to their exploitation by the employers.

The attraction for becoming regular labourers is declining

inspite of security of employment and some other benefits which
regular labourers enjoy. This is mainly due to the longer working
hours of regular labourers and the absence of any possibility of
taking up extra-time work or of being engaged in own work.

Contracts for work - All the contracts for work are entered into
verbally and voluntarily by the agricultural labourers. Any form of
forced labour is non-existent. Out of the total agricultural labourers,
the bargaining power of 42.31 percent is limited on account of their
reliance on the cultivators for credit. 26.91 percent of regular
agricultural labourers work on monthly basis.11.53 percent on
seasonal basis and 61.53 percent on annual basis. The most
important factor marked in the study is that the regular agricultural
labourers develop a sense of belongingness and they are more
close to the cultivators family than the casual labourers.

89.65 percent of casual agricultural labourers work on daily

basis and 8.62 percent on piece rate and contract rate basis. The
work on piece rate basis is liked by the casual labourers as they
can engage their family members and can also work to any extent
of time and secure advances against the work. But as the
employment on contract and piece rate basis normally depends
on the availability of some specific agricultural operations like
reaping, stripping, weeding, plucking and thrashing, the casual
labourers cannot always secure such contracts for work.
 The above facts indicate that the regular workers are in
lesser proportions compared to casual workers. They are mostly
dependant on their employers for credit purpose.

Employment - Employment is vital for the agricultural labourer

because it is employment which enables the labourer to earn his
livelhood . In agriculture there is close relationship between land,
labourer and cultivator, Cultivator is the owner of land. Land is the
field in which the cultivator and labourer work to produce output.

The study reveals that on an average an agricultural labourer

gets employment for 316 days in a year, 289 days in agricultural
operations and 27 days in non-agricultural sector. The number of
days of employment of regular labourers is 344 days in a year, 321
days in agricultural sector and 23 days in non agricultural sector.
Similarly a casual labourer works for 304 days on an average per
year, 274 days in agricultural operations and 29 days in non-
agricultural sector. So the regular agricultural labourer works for a
comparatively higher period than the casual workers.

Absenteeism - Absenteeism is the failure of a worker to report

for work when he is scheduled to work. A worker is scheduled to
work when he knows that the work is available for him. In fact
absenteeism in agricultural field causes loss not only to the worker
and the cultivator but also to the nation as whole. There is much
more absenteeism among the regular workers than in case of the
casual labourers.

The agricultural labourers absent themselves from work due

to social and religious ceremonies, sickness, bad weather and injury.
The higher rate of absenteeism can be attributed to the absence of

any provision for holiday to the casual labourers in particular and to

regular labourers in general. The absence from work of casual

labourers results in the loss of their wage as they work on daily basis
and “No work no wages” principle applies to them.

The absence due to sickness may be considerably reduced by

improving the working and living conditions of the agricultural labourers.

Working Hours - The working hours of agricultural labourers are

not fixed and vary from busy season to slack season. In busy season
the normal working day can be safely taken to consists of 10

working hours for regular worker as the greater number of workers

are found to be working for these hours. For casual workers the

normal working hour is 8 hours as the greater number of workers

are found to be working for these hours. The actual working hours
come to 8 hours for regular worker and 6 hours for casual workers
in busy season after allowing the time taken in rest pauses.

The regular agricultural labourers work for longer hours than

the casual labourers. It has been found that among the workers
consciousness has developed not to work for long hours. Now a

days the workers resist to work for long hour and they waste time

in taking rest if they are forced to work for long hours.

Rest-Pauses - The nature of agricultural operations being

arduous, involving physical strain, necessitates many a short period

rest. Naturally longer hours of work brings the question of rest.

The agricultural labourer were found to enjoy rest-pauses from 15

to 20 minutes duration every two hours of work making a total break

of one and a half hours to two hours a day. Of course the duration
of break and number of times of break varies from operation to

operation and from employer to employer. The cultivator do not

object to these rest pauses in majority of cases if they are availed

of by the agricultural labourers within reasonable limits. These

rest-pauses are necessary and can not be said to lessen the

efficiency of the workers or decrease production. They are rather

required for the workers to recoup their lost energy and to acquire

fresh vigour.

Self Employment Resources - The agricultural labourers in the

sample village possess self-employment resources. The agricultural
labourers engage themselves in those operation as and when they

get time. The labourer procures nominal income from these resources

and this income help the labourers family at the time of financial need.

59.61 percent of regular agricultural labourers and 36.20 percent of

casual agricultural labourers possess self employment resources in
the agricultural labour households.Live stock is the most important
self employment resources in the agricultural labour household though

there are other categories of self employment resource like land and
crop sharing.

Working Norms - There is no common working norm in

agricultural sector. Neither the cultivator nor the labourer follow

any common working norm during the period of work. There is no

common norm in regards to recruitment of agricultural labour,

working hour, wage level and the perquisites given to the labourer.

It varies from village to village and from employer to employer. There

is need for such norms to be adopted in the field and they may be
fixed on divisional and as well as regional basis.

Wages - The agricultural wage structure has a unique feature in

comparison to that of Industrial wage. The difference between
agricultural wage and industrial wage is on many counts. Wage

payments in Industry are related to specified number of works but

the number of working hour is not rigidly fixed in agriculture.

In agricultural operation in most cases wages are paid in piece

rate system but industrial wage is paid on time basis. Agricultural

wages are found to be very low as compared to Industi^^®®^^®

In agricultural operation there is the absence of trade yrfion but in

ll&-( !ms«8K **»*•»»

Industrial sector trade union plays an important role in datermiwatfSW®®

of wage.

Agricultural wage is governed by diverse factors. Those

factors are (a) agricultural production (b) seasonal conditions
(c) type of operations (d) supply and demand for labour (e) local

traditions (f) age and sex composition of labour. There is practically

no significant variations in factors governing the wage for the regular

and casual labourers.

At the time of peak season of agricultural operations , the

demand for agricultural workers is increased and this factor results

in some what higher wages. There is also a positive correlation

between the age and sex of the agricultural labourers and their
wages. The cultivators have no idea of their cost of production and
majority of them are unable to relate the cost of labour to the total
cost of production.

The wages of the agricultural labourers are paid in cash, in

kind and partly in cash and partly in kind. 72.02 percent of
labourers are paid wage in cash. 19.04 percent receives wage in
kind and 31.54 percent labourers receive wage partly in cash and

partly in kind. Now a days priority has been given to cash wage as

it is convinient both for the cultivator and the labourer.

The agricultural labourers are also given perquisites. 88.46

percent of regular agricultural labourers and 35.08 percent of casual

labourers receive perquisite. The most important perquisite given

to agricultural labourers is morning and evening meal. 52.08 percent

of agricultural labourers receive meal as perquisite.

The average wage rate, on the whole vary from Rs.43/- to

Rs.50/- per day in agricultural operations . The wage rate is not
uniform. It varies from operation to operation & season to season.

The wage rates in busy season in operations like harvesting is the

highest, Rs 50/- per day as in this season there is high demand for

labour in comparison to supply. There is no variation in wage rate

for the same operation within the village. The uniformity in wage
rate within the village has restrained the workers from changing
their employers frequently.

The increase in wage rates has been very slight 5 to 10

percent during the last four years. It is observed that the agricultural
wages continue to be low, except for short periods of acute
shortage of labour during ploughing and harvesting during winter
season. The most important factors responsible for low wages
in agricultural field are unorganised nature of farm labourers,
employment of family labour by small cultivators, the seasonal
character of agricultural operations, low productivity, excessive
supply of labour and illiteracy among the labourers.

There is no doubt that the wage rates of the agricultural

labourers are somewhat higher than the minimum wage rates fixed
by the government. But they have no relationship with the present
cost of living index. The minimum wage for the agricultural labour
is well below the living wage. The agricultural labourer does not get
his living wage because he is not in a position to press his case.

Income and Earnings - The total income of the household is

composed of (a) cultivation of land (b) wage from agricultural work
(c) wage from non- agricultural work (d) Income from live stock
and (e) Income from milk production (f) other sources if any.

The average annual income derived by each agricultural

labour household is estimated at Rs.16,128/-, income from
cultivation per household is Rs.122-/-, income from crop sharing is
Rs. 58/-, income from milk production is Rs. 145/-, income from
livestock is Rs. 92/- and from other sources is Rs. 25/-. So the
percapita household income comes to Rs. 16,569/-. 97.34 percent
of income comes from wage, 0.74 percent comes from cultivation
of land, 0.35 percent comes from crop sharing, 0.88 percent comes
from milk production, 0.56 percent comes from livestock and 0.15
percent comes from other sources. The total non-wage income
constitutes only 2.67 percent of the total income.

The earnings of agricultural labourers are insufficient to

enable them to maintain the minimum standard of living. It is
because agricultural production has not enormously increased.

Consumption and Expenditure pattern - The consumption

habit of agricultural labour households is irregular and very erratic
in nature. There is no standard consumption habit and uniform
practice of family expenditure. The consumption habit varies from
family to family and from time to time in a particular family. No
definite and specific principles have been followed by the
agricultural labour household while they incur their family
expenditure.

There are some important features of the consumption habit

of the agricultural labour household, (a) the consumption of
agricultural labour family is at a low level (b) food is considered as
the major consumption item and constitute the major portion of
their total expenditure (c) there is no routine expenditure pattern in
agricultural labour families, it is governed by emerging necessity
(d) now a days there is a reduction in expenditure on food items
due to increase in expenditure on fuel and lighting and medical
care (e) The agricultural labour family purchases commodity from
the village shopkeeper in small amount at higher price.

The average expenditure per agricultural labour household

per annum comes to Rs.17,180/-. The average percapita
expenditure comes to Rs. 3,492/-
 63.6 percent of the total expenditure is incurred on items of
food alone .The next item of expenditure is clothing claiming 10.1

percent of the total expenditure.

3 percent of sample households have consumption

expendiure within Rs. 10,000/- to Rs. 13,000/-, 24.34 percent of
households have consumption expenditure within Rs.13,000/- to

Rs.16,000/-, 49.67 percent of sample household have consumption

expenditure within Rs. 16,000/- to Rs.19,000/- .Similarly 23 percent

of sample household have a consumption expenditure within

Rs.19,000/- to Rs. 22,000/-.

Deficit in Households - The average annual income of

Rs.16,569/- against the average annual expenditure of

Rs. 17,180/- per agricultural labour household shows a deficit of

Rs. 611/- per household. This deficit is mostly met by borrowing.

The enquiry reveals that 86.34 percent of the sample households

desire to incur debt as they are hopeful to invest the funds in

productive field in order to increase income and to uplift their

standard of living . 13.67 percent of the sample households do not

desire to incur debt as they are afraid of the burden of debt
repayment.

Standard of Living - Income determines the standard of living

of a family. The standard of living primarily depends on how much
of necessaries, comfort and luxuries a man can purchase and use
for consumption.

A community is said to produce as much as it can consume,

 @)

but agricultural labourers are not capable of consuming more than

what they can afford to purchase. These labourers do not have the
purchasing power even to buy most essential necessaries of life.

The standard of living of the agricultural labourers and their family

members falls below the desired minimum standard of living.

Savings - Only 17.67 percent of agricultural labour households are

able to save out of their income after meeting their expenditure . 82.

34 percent of households do not save as they are unable to save .

Out of the household who save 79.25 percent of households

occasionally save and 20.75 percent make regular savings.

51.83 percent of agricultural labour households cannot

save because expenditure is more than their income. 41.71 percent

of agricultural labour households can not save because their income

just cover up their expenditure. 14.98 percent of households can

not save due to unforeseen expenditure and 5.67 percent of

households can not save because they do not have the will to save.

In the year 2000-2001 only 53 sample agricultural

households saved and their total saving amonut to Rs. 48,672/-

the average saving being Rs.162.25 per household. The average

saving income ratio of all the agricultural labour household has

been 0.98 percent which is very negligible .

The agricultural labour households make savings for more

than one motive . The motives due to which the households save
are old age (12.34%), children(16.34%), emergency (9.67%),

liquidating old debt 41.00%, house repair (35.00%) and social

 (215)

ceremonies (14.67%), religious functions (6.00%).

Investment and Assets - Only three households have deposited

their savings in saving account in the post office . The amount

deposited being Rs. 3,200/-. 15 percent of sample villages have

rural bank like Baitarani Gramya Bank facility. Only seven

households have deposited theirsavings in rural bank. The amount

deposited being Rs. 4,700/-. In 5 percent of sample villages there

are commercial Banks. Only two households have deposited their
savings in commercial Banks and the amount deposited being

Rs. 1,400/-. The total amount of deposit comes to Rs. 9,300/- in

different financial institutions. The average saving per household
is Rs. 31/-.

The sample agricultural labour households invest their

saving, in tangible wealth and assets which are considered as

property by them for their domestic uses. The tangible wealth are

plough, spade, sickle and other instruments necessary in

agricultural work like oxen, cow, goats, sheep, pigs and hen. The
other types of wealth in which the sample agricultural family invest
their saving are on cycle, silver and steel utensils, bell metals, goblet

and iron box, silver and gold ornaments.

Indebtedness - In rural area there is a general hesitation towards

debt. The agricultural labour households hesitate to incur debt
because they can not use it properly in productive manner, the
rate of interest is high and official procedure for debt contract is

cumbersome.
 The study reveals that 86.34 percent of the sample
households desire to incur debt, and 13.67 percent of the sample

households do not desire to incur debt. The workers who desire to

incur debt are hopeful to invest in productive fields to increase

income and to uplift the standard of living.

34.67 percent of households have loan and the rest 65.34

percent of households do not have loan. Of the total laon 44.24

percent are institutional loan and 55.76 percent are non-institutional

loan. The rate of interest in case of institutional loan is lower than

that of the non-institutional loan. The failure to incur institutional

loan is due to a number of reasons. 13.64 percent of households

express that they can not afford the membership fees of the

co-operative banks, so they are not able to procure debt. 42.81

percent express their inability to present any security for a loan.

Similarly 25.38 percent express that the complicated official

procedure is the main hindrance for obtaining loan and 18.18

percent are of the opinion, that party politics in rural area create

problem for them to have loan.

Out of the indebted households 13.80 percent owe a debt

upto Rs. 1000/-, 43.11 percent between Rs.1000/- to Rs. 2000/-
22.42 percent between Rs.2000/- to Rs. 3000/-, 10.35 percent

between Rs. 3000/- to Rs. 4000/- and 10.35 percent carry a debt

between Rs. 4000/- to Rs.5000/-. The average amount of debt per

household is Rs. 341.67/-. 14.00 percent of the outstanding debt is
free of interest and other debt is incurred at interest rates varying
from 36.00 percent to 96.00 percent per annum.
 <217)

There are various factors which directly or indirectly affect

the growth of debt. The fact that debt is not obtained generally for
productive purposes has been responsible fcr keeping repayment

capacity of the household at a low level and in many cases has

necessitated further borrowings for consumption purposes. The

repayment of loans has not been satisfactory due to low income.

But the poor repayment performance has checked the debt to grow
further as without repayment of old debt it is difficult to incur a

new debt.

It would be futile to expect the agricultural labourers to invest

any capital without any saving. The data reveal that the asset
formation is not only slow but also poor. Even those who can have
some capacity to save do not save because the habit of saving has
not been inculcated in them. The programmes of community

development have not been successful in this respect.

Housing and Living conditions - Ail most all agricultural labour

households have their own houses and live in them. 68.67 percent of
households have ancestral houses, 31.34 percent have constructed
their own houses. The houses usually consist of a single room or two

rooms and mostly have open courtyards outside the room. The houses
usually have rectangular rooms and steep roofs. On the basis of
materials used in the houses it may be observed that about 3 percent
houses are pucca houses and are made of burnt bricks and mortar,
the roof is covered by tiles, 14 percent of the houses are a combination

of pucca and kacha houses and are made partly of mud and. partly of

mortar. The majority of houses i.e. 83 percent are kacha houses or

thatched houses and are made of mud and unburnt bricks. Therefore

majority of the houses may be described as ‘huts’.

The absence of windows and ventilation facilities makes the

rooms semi-dark. The low door way opening makes the entry

difficult without stooping. The condition of houses become worse

when the livestock also is taken inside along with the family

members during rains. There is over crowding which leads to

unhealthy conditions. There are no facilities of water and latrines .

Lack of sanitary habits result in heaps of rotting garbage lying here

and there.

The agricultural labourers possess a keen desire to make

their houses out of their savings and increased incomes. This sprit

clearly reflects their will of self reliance. When they propose to make

their houses by borrowing, the government should help them by

extending the necessary financial assistance for the purpose.

There is at present no pressing need of the construction of

new houses for the agricultural labourers, but the more important
need is to prevent their houses from further decay and to improve

the existing accommodation. Little thought has been given to these

points in the “Village Housing Scheme” The expenditure for

renovation and improvement will be much less than construction
of new houses and will provide immediate relief to the agricultural

labourers from their miserable housing conditions.

Attitudes of Agricultural Labourers - The findings reveal that

24.41 percent of agricultural labourers are satisfied with their
earning. 66. 67 percent of agricultural labourers are not satisfied
with their earning and 8.93 percent are neither satisfied nor
disatisfied with their earning. Similarly 38.70 percent of agricultural

labourers are satisfied with the working condition, 48.81 percent

of agricultural labourers are not satisfied with the working condition

and 12.5 percent are neither satisfied nor disatisfied with the
working condition.

The agricultural labourers are aware of the limitations of

the agricultural sector. The agricultural labourers desire to change

the occupation for the better paid and more secure jobs.

It is found from the survey that 14.23 percent of casual

agricultural labourer are not attracted to non-agricultural work.

85.78 percent are attracted to non-agricultural work, 62.21 percent

of agricultural labourer are satisfied with the behaviour of employer,

22.03 percent are not satisfied with the behaviour of employer

and 15.78 percent are neither satisfied nor disatisfied with the
behaviour of employer.

Agricultural labour and Planning - Regarding the effect of

planning, 45.34 percent of households were of the opinion that

their economic position has worsened during all these years of

planned development, 14.34 percent of households have

mentioned improvement in their economic position over the plan
period . 29.00 percent of households have not experienced any
change in their economic position, 11.34 percent of households
are unable to state about their economic position at present in
comparison to the past years.

It seems , development plan has not helped the majority of

agricultural labour households to improve their economic condition.
Most of the households on the contrary feel that their economic

position has become worse during the plan periods.

94.35 percent of agricultural labourers are aware of some

aspects of the various plan programmes. Only 17.04 percent are
aware about the Five year plans in the country, 34.07 percent are

aware about the prohibition programmes, 40.07 percent about

family planning, 10.42 percent about the scheme for saving, and

20.83 percent are aware about other economic programmes. The

agricultural labourers became aware about developmental schemes

through community radio (21.76%), speech of political leaders

(42.67%), news paper and T.V. (7.25%), from village Panchayata

(5.67%), and through personal discussion (23.02%).

A Resume - The present study throws a lot of light on the right of

the agricultural labourer. The causes responsible for this position

are varied complex and deep rooted. The basic causes emerge
out of this study may be summed up as follows.

The agricultural labourers are not able to eke out a living

inspite of their sweating labour. Their low income enable them to

have a very low level of living . The low level of living of these

labourers further cause social disabilities and malnutrition. This

ultimately results in low agricultural productivity. The average wage
and income of these labourers are pitifully low and as a result their
expenditure is generally in excess of their earnings.

There is again a wide disparity between the incomes of

Industrial labour and that of agricultural labour. The agricultural

labour, despite the government’s so called land reforms and other
ameliorative measures, today can ill afford to have a decent

standard of living.

This study reveals that the problem of unemployment and

under employment of agricultural labourers is not so serious in
this part of the country. The labourers are generally engaged in

agricultural and non- agricultural work for 316 days in a year. Thus

there are only about 49 days when they are without any work. The

main problem is that they get employment at low wages.

These agricultural labourers live in the dread of dual evils of

unemployment and low wages. But they are at the same time more

anxious and ready for sacrifice than others. The suffering of

agricultural labourer is due to low employment opportunities and

low wages. A welfare state committed to socialism can not neglect

any section of the population. The plight of the agricultural labour
is matter of concern.

The persistence of large inequalities in income and

opportunities creates deep grievance and discontent. It also creates

a growing resentment.

The need to raise the social and economic status of the

agricultural labourers has continuously drawing the attention of the

planners. The vicious circle of present day stagnation in the rural

economy originates in low agricultural production. It is true that

the development of the agricultural sector is linked with the

development of the non-agricultural sector. No economy can be

isolated with the national economy. No increase in agricultural

production can be possible and effective, even though there may be

technological improvements without an active and efficient

participation of the agricultural labourers. All developmental and

reform movements have to come to grips with the reality of the poor

living conditions of agricultural labour. Inspite of the impact of several

measures - social and economic- in general and in agricultural field in

particular- in recent years, the living conditions of agricultural labourers

and their family members still remain miserable.

Limiting Factors - There are some limiting factors which stand

on the way and have their impact on the agricultural labourers.

Those are internal and external. The most important limiting factor

is land. The low yield in land, the limited possibility of additional

acreage for further cultivation, the seasonal character of agricultural
operations, the small size of holdings, and excessive supply of

labour at times are some of the other factors that narrow down the

scope of employment and the range of earnings.

The external limiting factors are generally associated with

adverse agricultural conditions in the country. It may be easy to
list factors that cause the poverty and misery of the agricultural

labourers but it is actually difficult to appraise their intensity. The

low wages in agricultural operation makes the standard of living

poor. The poor condition results in low skill and efficiency of

agricultural labourer. Thus the agricultural out put is low. If the
out put is low it places restrictions on the scope of employment
possibilities and in the range of wages. Hence the vicious circle of
poverty and low earning in agricultural sector.

Need for Improvement - The study of socio-economic conditions

of agricultural labourer brings out the fact that the conditions of
agricultural labourers call for immediate and urgent steps for
betterment and drastic improvements. This is necessary because
of the following reasons.

The agricultural labourers are the depressed and neglected

class of people in the society. They have lost their hope and
aspiration and they never consider themselves as an active
participant in national stream. They sink in object poverty which is
considered as an formidable obstacle to the planned economic
development in the country. They need care and assurance from
the government from the cultivators and from the society.

The crux of planned economic development is to maximize

the agricultural production. Any step in this direction is impossible
as long as the feeling of injustice prevails among the agricultural
labourer.

There is a positive correlation between standard of living

and the skill of labour force . Due to low level of earning and lack
of proper facilities necessary for the upkeep of body and mind of
agricultural labour, their skill and efficiency are very weak. No
spectacular gains in agricultural production can be possible unless
steps for improvement are taken in this direction.

-The economy of a Country is an indivisible totality . All sectors

and classes have a role to play for rapid economic development.
So sincere attempt should be made in such a way that ail sectors
grow simultaneously and all classes receive the fruits of

development equitably.

So there is an urgent need for planning for the betterment

of the Conditions of agricultural labourers and their families . Now

it is extremly desired to transfer this downtrodden section into a

more active group.

Suggestion for Amelioration - The surplus labour in

agricultural sector in slack season creates problem for the
agricultural households. The responsibility for the maintenance of

surplus labour is a major problem in agricultural sector. Unless

this surplus labour force is not withdrawn no sustained improvement

can be possible . It is wasteful to keep this surplus labour force

waiting for a number of days in a year.

The surplus labour gets low income due to period of

unemployment and under employment. This further affects the wages

in general. Low wages can be corrected through transfer of labour

force from the farm sector. It also helps to increase productivity in

agricultural sector and foster better bargaining power among the
labourers. If provision will be made for lighter Industries and cottage

Industries in rural areas than this problem can be solved.

 The shift of agricultural labour from less labour intensive
crops like inferior cereals to more labour intensive and profitable
commercial crops like sugar cane and ground nuts and the use of

more modern inputs may raise the demand for labour.

. Modernisation and introduction of high yielding variety of

seeds and provision of muti cropping may increase the absorption

capacity of agricultural sector as a result of which the demand for

labourer will increase. Unless the cultivator gets more benifit from

agriculture he will be reluctant to give more benifit to the agricultural

labourer. So in order to take care of the interest of the agricultural

labourer the interest of the cultivator should be looked after.

To improve the socio-economic condition of agricultural

labourer by increasing the wage in agricultural sector is an

unrealistic assumption. In rural community the agricultural wage is

higher than the minimum wage prescribed by the government. At

this stage the cultivators are unwilling to cultivate the land because
they feel that they can not afford for higher wage as the return

from land is not enough. So the government can not sharply

increase the agricultural wage.

The farm labourer are unskilled for other occupations and

ignorant about the changes taking place in the society. There is
need for positive programmes of education, training and vocational

guidance and employment services to facilitate the movement of

surplus farm labourers into better jobs. Similarly the cultivators
should be provided training to cultivate more commercial crops
where the return is more and the operation is more labour intensive
. It will serve two purposes, one it can increase the capacity of the

cultivator to pay higher wage, and second it can increase the

demand for labour.

The community development programmes should give more

Stress on the human factor which is very essential for higher

production . This will create awareness among the agricultural

labourer as well as among the cultivators. In order to improve the

socio-economic condition of agricultural labourer the cultivator has

a major role to play. They can play a positive role in this direction.

There is need to provide employment opportunities in the

non-farm sector through an adequate development programme in

the rural economy. The non-farm sector then will tap the surplus
labour force . The surplus labour has to be mobilised. How far this

labour would respond to economic incentives for mobility depends

on how far their social obligations and social affiliations can be

adjusted to the economic changes.

There is a need to stimulate the enterprises which the surplus

labour force from the farms carry on with small resources and simple
tools.

Attempt should be made to regulate prices of essential

commodities in rural areas as to ensure substantial real income for
wage earners. Since it is not possible to increase money income
immediately, it is wise and more rational to take initiative to increase

real income. This is possible only by an attempt of regulating the prices

of essential commodities used by the agricultural households or

arranging their supply at reasonable prices through co-operative stores.

Under utilised manpower can be engaged in works like

field test operations, soil conservation and in horticulture, minor
irrigation works, building approach roads and reclamation of waste land.

Sometimes the agricultural labour households are in shortage

of funds to meet the extra expenditure on social ceremonies or to

provide medical services to any of the family member affected by
disease or due to some unforeseen expenditure. They borrow funds

either from the village money lender at higher rate of interest or

from the cultivators. The higher rate of interest in the long run

becomes a burden and the repayment of principal and interest

creates severe hardship. This problem can be effectively solved
by co-operatives. There is great need for the establishment of

labour co-operatives of agricultural labourers which should have

sufficient capital to take up work contracts so as to engage and

organise the unemployed labourer in the rural areas. The credit
co-operative should be streamlined to meet the loan needs of the
labour households in time.

Education is necessary to bring about the social change and

economic progress. The agricultural labourers are unware of the
prospect of education nor they are economically sound to give
better education to their children. So government should initiate .
Effective measures may be taken to give free and proper education

to the children of the agricultural labour family.

The mid-day meal, scheme should continue for the school

children, free books and free dresses should be supplied to the
students of agricultural labour families and stipends should be
given to the students belonging to agricultural labour family
irrespective of the caste they belong to.

The social welfare boards should be established to bring

about a change in the attitude habits and customs of these poor
class of people .The NGOs can play an effective role in this field.
Moreover this section of people expect affection and sympathy
from the rest of the society to live with dignity. The elite and rich
sections of the society should consider it as their moral duty and
social responsibility to uplift the poor and weak.

No society and no economy can be prosperous and healthy

with indifference and hostile attitude of the rich to those at the
lower rung of the social and economic ladder.

Last but not the least, employment guarantee scheme on

the pattern of Karnatak and Maharastra should be introduced in
the rural sector to help and promote the economic well being of
the agricultural labourers.

***