APPENDICES

APPENDIX -A

APPENDIX - B

APPENDIX - C

APPENDIX - D

APPENDIX 'B'

Gandhigram Rural Inst i tute- Deemed University

Department of Applied Research

Topic: Problems of Rural Landless Women Labourers in Dindtgul District

Format for Field Observation

1.Village:

2. Name of the respondent:

3..Occupation: 1. Farm labourer 2. Non-farm labourer

4. Nature of work:

5. Woikspot:

Location of the vvorkspot:

1. Within the village.

2.Outside the village

6.Points to be observed:

1. Working conditions

2. Facilities available at the woikspot

3. Housing conditions

APPENDIX 'C

G a n d h i g r a m Rural I n s t i t u t e - D e e m e d U n i v e r s i t y

Department of Applied Research

Topic: Problems of Rural Landless VVomen Labourers in Dindigul District

Format for Focussed Group Discussion

1. Venue: Date: Time:

2. Members present: 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

3. Moderator:

4. Flow of Topic Guide for Discussion:

1. General problems

2. Gender discrimination

3. Working conditions

4. Facilities at workspot

5. Wage difference among labourers

6. Health problems and medical care

5. Viewpoints of the participants:

6. Suggestions and recommendations:

APPENDIX ™ D

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

1. Paper published on " Problems of Rural Landless Agricultural

Labourers: A study, Journal of Extension and Research, Vol. II. No.l.

July 1999, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Gandhigram.(Enclosure)

2. Paper presented at the XXII India Social Science Congress held during

13-18 March 1999 at Gandhigram Rural Institute, Gandhigram.

3. Paper presented in Seminar on "Empowerment of Rural Female Labour

Force" sponsored by the U.G.C. Organised by the dept of Applied

Research, on 29-01-99 at GRJ, Gandhigram.

4. Paper presented in seminar on " Environment And Empowerment of

Women" sponsored by the U.G.C. Organised by the dept of Socialogy,

held on during 28-29 March - 2000, Bharathidasan University,

Tiruchirappalli.

CONTENTS EDITORIAL

N.MARKANDAN Revamping the Education System In India .... 1

M.R.RAJAGOPALAN Ecological Rights .... 5

A.K.THARIEN Perspectives on Cloning .... 10

Q.PALANITHURAI Gram Sabha: A Civil Society at tho Bottom .... 16

S.JANAKIRAMAN and T.RAJENDRAN An Evaluation ol Sell and Wage Employment Programmes In Rural Areas ol Tamil Nadu .... 26

N.KAMALAMMA, E.K.N.VABMA RAJA and R AJANTHA PARAMESHWARI Ropllcablo Doalgns ol Soak-pits lor Spill Water Disposal at Community Water Sources .... 32

R.KUMUTHAKALAVALLI and R.LAWRENCE XAVIEFt Contribution ot Mushroom Centre ot Gandhigram Rural University .... 38

M.G.SETHURAMAN and R.RAJA RAM MOHAN Studies on Physlcochemlcal - Properties ol an Ayurvedic Preparation - Plnda Thalia .... 42

L.RAJA Conflict Resolution through Action Research - Shantl Sena Experiences In Tamil Nadu .... 47

N.D.MANI and N.MARAGATHAVALLI Pooplo'B Participation In Drought-prone Area Programme .... 68

M.SOUNDARAPANDIAN, Now Economic Policy and Textile Industry In India. .... 66

N.LALITHA Towards Empowormont ol Women: Organisational and Managerial Perspectives ot Woman Co-operatives .... 75

T.SELVIN JEBARAJ NORMAN and REXLIN SELVIN Attitude Towardo Farming • A Comparative Study .... 85

A.BALAKRISHNAN Problems ol Rural Landloss Agricultural Labourer*: A Sludy .... 89

P. ANANDHARAJAKUMAR Female Child Labour In Match Wori<« • An Inquiry .. . . 95

S.ARUL GNANA SEKAR Remote Sensing and Forest Resource Monitoring • An Impact Assessment .. . . 101

R.VENKATARAVI and R.S.MURAll Role ol Women In Sortcullure .... 108

REPORTS

N.NARAYANASAMY National Workshop on "Corruption at the Grassroots* .... 119

S.GURUSAMY Regional Workshop on "Street Children: Rolo ol GOS and NGOS In rehabilitation and prevention" .... 122

R E S E A R C H A B S T R A C T

S. NARAYANASAMY Sarvodayltes and Sarvodaya Movement In Tamil Nadu - A Trend Analysis .. . . 124

S, ARUMUGAM Design. Construction, Perlormance and Heat Extraction Studies ol a Full Scale Non-convoding Solar Pond .... 126

A.JOSEPH DORAIRAJ Myth and Hormonoullcs: A Hermeneutical Interpretation ol James Joyce's .... 127 A portrait ol Iho Artlal na a Young Man

S. ARUL GNANA SEKAR Forestry and Rural Dovelopmenl - A Case Study ol Ayyalur Interlace Forestry Pro|ect ..., 129

M.ALANKARA MASILA MANI Energy In Rural Tarnllnadu: A Case ol Gandhigram Service Villages, Dlndlgul District . . . . 131

A.EASWARAN Designing a Strategy lor Training Village Panchayat Presidents In Micro Level Planning In Dlndigul District. Tamil Nadu . . . . 133

A.PUNNAVANAM

Financial Performance ol Co-operaUve Milk Producers' Unions In Tamil Nadu ... . 135

B O O K R E V I E W

M.A.SUDHIR .. . . 137 I

LIST OF C O N T R I B U T O R S .. . . 139

PROBLEMS OF RURAL LANDLESS AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS : A STUDY

A.BALAKRISHNAN

INTRODUCTION

The poor in India are overwhelmingly concentrated in rural areas, engaged in agriculture and non-agricultural occupations. They constitute the most backward, unorganised and deprived section of the work force. Rural Labour force in India is characterised by the informal nature of work contracts and predominance of casual workers. Rural labourers are a heterogeneous group. They may be landless labourers, part-time share-croppers or marginal/small farmers. Most of the agricultural labourers are from the landless labourers category.

Agricultural labourers predominantly belong to the scheduled castes. Most of the agricultural workers belong to the depressed classes which have been neglected for ages. The low caste and the depressed classes have been socially handicapped and they have never had the courage to assert themselves. They are illiterate, ignorant and unorganised. They do not have continuous work. Non-existence of alternative occupations and prevailing low-wage rate are the major factors for their poor economic condition.

According to the National Commission on Labour, an agricultural labourer is one "who is basically unskilled and unorganized and has little for his livelihood other than personal labour". Persons whose main source of income is wage employment fall in this category. It consists of two-sub-categories (1) landless agricultural labour, and (2) very small cultivators whose main source of earning in wage employment.

The demand for labour in agriculture is highly seasonal and uneven due to tire sectoral

nature of agricultural operations. Tliere is a peak demand for labour in the harvesting seasons

and next to that in times of transplanting and weeding. The duration of employment in a year

ranges from 5 to 7 months in unirrigated areas and 9 to 10 months in irrigated areas. The number

of labourers in demand depends upon the size of holdings.

© 1999 Gandhigram Rural Institute Journal of Extension and Research Vol.II No.l 1999

90 A.BALAKRISHNAN

REVffiW OF RELATED LITERATURE:

Ranjan( 1987) has pointed out that the various problems facing landless agricultural labourers are mostly meagre wages, want of employment opportunities, lack of welfare facilities and discrimination both socially and economically. Erragattasamy (1984) highlighted in his study the issues of number of days employed in less unirrigated areas and of female agricultural labourers, irrespective of their caste or region, being at a disadvantage compared to their male counterpart in terms of wages. Shuran(1993) has pointed out in his study that wages arc low for female labourers compared to their male counterparts. Kaur( 1994) pointed out that the female agricultural labourers received only 75 percent of the remuneration of female counterparts were paid for the same labour. The respondents complained of exploitaion by their employers in terms of wages and the hard nature of the job. Only 60 percent of the respondents were satisfied with their present job. The studies conducted in this area have been till now general. Hence, the present study mainly focusses on the problems of scheduled caste landless agricultural labourers, and suggests suitable measures to solve the problems faced by them in rural areas.

For the purpose of the study Indrapuram village located in Athoor Block in Dindigul District

is selected. It is a single caste (Scheduled Caste-Saklciliar) village and the total number

of households is 85. Of this 60 households belong to landless labourers.

The Gandhigram Trust adopted Indrapuram and is one of their service villages. The

Gandhigram Trust has been ruDning a balwadi in this village during the last 40 years.

OBJECTIVES

1) To study the socio-economic conditions of the landless labourers;

2) To identify their problems related to employment, wage and wage exploitation, if any; and

3) To suggest suitable measures to overcome the problems faced by the respondents.

METHODOLOGY

The sample for the study consisted of, 30 landless labour households selected randomly

from Indrapuram. For collecting necessary data, a pre-tested interview schedule.was used.

Observational technique was followed to study their living conditions.

MAJOR FINDINGS

* Out of the toal, two-third (66 percent) of the respondents are female and remaining one-third (33 percent) male.

Journal of Extension and Research Vol.II No.l 1999 © 1999 Gandhigram Rural Institute

PROHU'.MS Ol' RURAL LANlM.l'SS ACIIUCUI.TURAU I.AMIOUIU'.HS , j ,

The majority (73 percent) of the respondents.belong to the age group of 15-35 years and the remaining (27 percent) are between 36 and 60 years.

More than three-fourth (76 percent) of the respondents are married as against a few (13 percent) who are unmarried, while the remaining(13 percent) are widows.

The majority (63) of the respondents are illiterate as against 17 percent who had studied up to primary level, while the remaining (20 percent) had education up to secondary level.

All the respondents are engaged in agricultural work as labourer for their survival.

All the respondents belong to Hindu religion and Sakkiliar caste (Scheduled caste).

The inajority(80 percent) of the respondents are from nuclear type of families and the remaining (20 percent) are from joint families.

Among the total family members a little more than two fifth (40.6 percent) are children (0-14 year). Thirty four percent are aged between 15 and 35 years, and the remaining 22 percent arc in the age group between 36 and 60 years, while a few (3) belong to the age group of above 60 years.

Out of the total a little more than half (51 percent) of the family members are male and the remaining (49 percent) are female.

Of the respondents, 40 percent of the family members are illiterate, 31 percent had

education up to primary level, and the remaining (29 percent) had studied up to

secondary level.

The majority (89 percent) of the family members are engaged in agriculture and allied activities as their occupation and the other members (11 percent) are involved in non-farm activities.

Except one all the respondents are having own house. These house were constructed

and handed over to them by Gandhigram Trust.

More than half (53 percent) of the respondents spent from their income between

76 percent and 100 percent for food alone and the remaining (47 percent) spent

their income between 51 percent for food. This indicates that they are below the

poverty line.

Nearly half (47 percent) of the respondents have assets worth less than Rs. 10,000,

another 47 percent own assets worth Rs. 10,000-Rs. 20,000 and only two (six percent)

have assets worth Rs.20,0()0-Rs.30,000.

9 1999 Gandhigram Rural Institute Journal of Extension and Research Vol.II No.l 1999

* Out of the total, 37 percent of tlie respondents have borrowed money for family

maintenance and to meet medical expenses. Out of the total borrowers, 90 percent

borrowed money from money lenders and the amount ranged from Rs.3000 toRs.6000.

* More than two-third (68 percent) of the respondent's family expenditure ranged from Rs.1000 to Rs.2000 per month, a few (18.3 percent) spent less than Rs.1000 and tlie remaining (11 percent) spent Rs.2000-Rs.3000 as their family expenditure.

* All tlie respondents reported that their nature of employment is on daily wages.

* The majority of (89 percent) tlie respondents do agriculture work i.e weeding, transplanting, flower plucking in the case of women while the menfolk do ploughing, preparation of land and other physical work.

* Out of the total, 63 percent of the respondents got employment through their-workers, 56 percent through their relatives and 60 percent directly from the farm owners.

'* Except one (3 percent) all the other respondents get employment for between for 10 and 20 days per month.

* Regarding the reasons for unemployment, 89 percent of the respondents cited poor rain fall, 40 percent poor employment opportunity and 10 percent seasonal work.

* All the male labourers are getting a wage of less than Rs.50 per day and all the female labourers are getting less than Rs.25 per day.

* The reason for tlie wage different between males and females is that males are

involved in heavy physical work as against females, who do light work.

* All tlie respondents are not aware of tlie Minimum Wages Act.

* Out of the total, two-third (20) of tlie respondents faced problems in getting their

wages and the remaining one-third did not face any problem.

* Out of the total, 33 percent of the respondents worked for more than the normal

working hours.

* All tlie respondents normally work witliin the village and four-fifth (80 percent) also work outside the village, i.e. they go for work in neighboring as well as far off places.

* Two-third of (66 percent) the respondents are paid wages on daily basis and tlie

remaining one-third (33 percent) are paid on weekly basis.

* None of the respondents are aware of the maximum working hours Fixed by tlie government for agricultural labourers.

i

Journal of Extension and Research Voi.II No.! 1999 © 1999 Gandhigram Rural Institute

* Half (50 percent) of the respondents needed government intervention to solve their

problems.

* lire majority (90 percent) of respondents are not aware of govt programmes like IRDP, DWCRA and JRY while the remaining(10 percent) know of these programmes through their neighbours and relatives. The majority (75 percent) of the respondents expect help from Non-Governmental Organisations for their development.

* None of the Respondents are members in any association or union, 45 percent wanted

to join a union, and the remaining do not want to join any workers union.

SUGGESTIONS

* To reduce die seasonal unemployment the govt's employment oriented programmes

should be effectively implemented during the off-season. Thereby these landless

labourers can be benefited.

* Awareness camps should be organised to create awareness among the labourers

about labour laws and rights.

* Govt and Non-Govt agencies should organise literacy camps to create awareness

about various employment programmes meant for landless labourers.

* New employment avenues should be created based on need and resources to reduce

rural-rural and rural-urban migration.

* To create non-farm activities skill training and entrepreneurship training should

be given to women labourers.

* Basic medical facilities should be provided in the study area.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, whatever the programmes implemented by the Government to improve the

large section of landless labourers in die agricultural sector, the benefits do not reach this target

group. The Government should take necessary steps to extend the benefits through proper

coverage to all rural areas. The voluntary agencies should also provide necessary help

by providing skill training, organising literacy programmes and creating employment opportumties

for these landless labourers, especially for women labourers. This will enhance their income

earning capacity and thereby, their standard of living.

94 A.BALAKJUSHNAN

REFERENCES

1. Erragattasaniy, M., K. Venkataiiarayan arid LingamuraUiy, N, Socio-Economic conditions of female agricultural labourers (A case study) Kurukshetra, Vol.XXXVIII, No. 10, July, pp 37-39.

2. Kaur, Giana "Female employment and wages in agricultural activities-evidence from

Rural Panjab', Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, July-1994, Vol XVI, No.3,

pp.54-55.

3. Radhakrishna and Alakh N.Sharma(Ed.) Empowering Rural Labour in India, New Delhi: Institute for Human Development, 1998.

4. Saran A.B. and Sandhwar A.N, Problems of women workers in unorganised sectors, New

Delhi: Northern book centre, 1990.

5. Sharan, Ramesh Maniswar Dayal "Depreivation of female farm labourers in Jharkhand

Region of Bihar, Social Change, VoJ,23, No.4, December, 1993 pp. 95-99.

6. Vivek Ranjana Bhattacharya, Landless in India-New face of Rural India, New Delhi:

Metropolitan Book Company, 1982.