CgHAPTER^

INTRODUCTION

1. Introduction

2. Objectives of the study

3. Scope and methodology of the study

4. Concepts and definitions

5. Sample size

6. Treatment of Non-Response

7. Scope of the Study and the Limitations.

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Chapter-1

Introduction

Agricultural Labourers constitute a large section of the rural

population in India. They form an important section of the rural
community having a distinctive character and individuality of their
own from the early days. They toil on land , they do not possess,

they work in hot and cold weather from early morning till late at
night . They are generally half feed, ill clothed and can not read
and write.They often go to sleep with an empty stomach with a

haunted and helpless look, they continue their life, full of crushing

and ever growing burdens. .

The Agricultural Labourers are living in the villages, where

Mahatma Gandhi said, “India really lives”, these men have been

working hard having little joy and recreation. Perhaps they have

been rendering their services for the society with great suffering

and sacrifice. Mahatma Gandhi declares in 1919-20, “No political

freedom would be complete and lasting unless it freed the tiller of

soil from the oppressive system he has working under."The primary

function of the state is to promote the wellbeing and progress of

workers in the fields, factories and elsewhere, to whom essentially

all power and authority must belong.(1)

The Agricultural Labourers form large and dominant section

of the rural community. Their problems are many, multifarious and

(1) The historic ‘ Quit India’resolution of the AA.C.C. on Aug. 19.

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interconnected. The introduction of Five year plan and the growth

of the National Economy have been drawing the attention of the

Government and efforts have been made from time to time to

assess their problems.

Planning has beeen one of the pillars of our policies since

1951 and our present strengths derive from it’s achievement. It is

one of the primary object of the Five Year Plans to ensure fuller

opportunities for work and a better living to all sections of the rural
community and in particular to assist agricultural labourers and
the backward classes to come up to the level of the rest. The
problems of the agricultural labourers constitute a challenge and

the obligation rests upon the community and the government to

find satisfactory solution for them.

The strategy of agricultural development in the eighth plan

aims at not only achieving self sufficiency in food but also

generating surpluses of specific agricultural commodities for export.

Though the progress of agriculture in the recent period has been

satisfactory, there are striking regional and crop imbalances.

Productivity varies considerably from one region to another . The

benefits of green revolution which remain confined at present to

the north and north-east must spread to other regions more

particularly to the eastern and north eastern region, which have

adequate rainfall, fertile soil, ample agricultural labour and unlimited

scope for stepping up agricultural production.(2)

(2) Eighth Five Year Plan Volume -I

 Agriculture and allied activities constitute the single largest
contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP) accounting for
almost 30% of the total . They are vital for the national well being
besides providing the basic needs of the society and the raw

materials for some of the important segments of Indian Industry.

They provide livelihood for almost two third of the work force . The
share of the agricultural products in the total export earnings both
in primary and processed forms is very significant.

Improvement in the quality of labour, productivity, skills and

working conditions and provision of welfare and social security

measures, especially of those working in the unorganised sector

are crucial elements of the strategy for quantitative and qualitative

enhancement of employment opportunities, (3)

There is no doubt that the welfare of the nation is the primary

objective of planned development. The community development and
other programmes in rural community were introduced with the
basic idea of building democracy and bringing social and economic

changes at grass root level.

The land reform policy introduced by the Government of India

may decrease the demand for hired labour in agricultural field due
to its substitution by family labour and the fall in the average size

of the operational holding and the consequent shift in emphasis

to self cultivation. The supply of agricultural labour may be

increased due to a shift from tenancy to agricultural labour owing

(3) Eighth FiveYear Plan Volume -IIpage 154.

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to eviction. Whatever the case may be the agricultural labour class
continues to form the weakest link in the rural economy today.

The Agricultural labourers have not derived much benefits

from the development scheme undertaken by the Government

during the last fifty years. The social and economic disparities in
the country have not visibly declined.

The need to raise the social and economic status of the

Agricultural Labourers has continuously engaged the attention

of the planners. As a matter of fact, the vicious circle of present

day stagnation in economic field begins from low agricultural

production . It is true and convincing that the development of the

agricultural sector is linked with the development of the non-

agricultural sector. An increase in agricultural production is not

possible and effective , even though there may be technological

improvements without an active and efficient participation of the

agricultural labourers. The social and economic disabilities of
agricultural laboures, which in themselves are no small part of the

problem, stand in the way of the agricultural labourers for active

and efficient participation. This is the problem and it has to be boldly

faced.

Agricultural sector continues to dominate the economy of

Orissa absorbing about 75% of the total working forces and
contributing about 50% of the state domestic product. This primary
sector is crucial to the growth of the state’s economy. Any fluctuation
in the output of the sector impinges on the growth rate of the
economy. The erratic behaviour of monsoon accompanied by
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inadequate irrigation coverage very often results in severe
fluctuation in annual agricultural production in state and slows down

it’s pace of growth. In Orissa this primary sector requires a thrust

and steady technological and structural changes in order to counter
the climatic uncertainties, uneven distribution and precipitation

during monsoon and deep rooted uneconomic traditional practices.

The state deserves and expects high economic prosperity on

account of its abundant natural resources. But it’s economic

progress is afflicted by a plethora of socio-economic constraints.
Empirical studies of both social and economic situations of the

state show discouraging relation between plan investment and

performances.

The total population of the state according to the provisional

statement of 2001 census is 36,706,920 of this male population
is 18,612,340 and female population 18,094,580. This is just
3.57percent of total population of India. The 75% of the total working

forces engaged in agriculture consist of cultivator, agricultural

labourer, household Industry worker and other workers. So the

agricultural labour plays a vital role in the development of the State
economy, by contributing a major share of the national product.

Importance is given to the progress of agriculture because it can

provide food to the growing population, can show a surplus for

export, earn foreign exchange, create employment opportunities
and generate sustained income. Agricultural labour has a major
role to play in this regard.

The labour engaged in agriculture can influence the economy

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in two ways.-

(a) producing goods and commodities through efficient

working.

( b) Creating demand for the goods produced and supplied

in the market.

A labourer is considered as an input of production and hence

can create and increase supply of output and at the same time

can influence the demand condition in the market. So it is necessary

to undertake an empirical survey of the socio-economic conditions
of the agricultural labour in Orissa. If a clear picture of their socio­

economic condition is obtained it will help to formulate proper

strategy of planning which is highly essential now a days.

Objectives of the study -

The main objectives of the study 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 factors on

productivity and earning of labourers

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

Government to uplift the standard of living of agricultural labourer.

The main earning of agricultural labourer is wage. They

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depend on wage to purchase food, clothing and other essential
commodities for their family, to repair their house and to meet the
expenditure required to give education to their child. A clear and

analytical study is needed to know wage condition of agricultural

labourer, that is whether the present wage is sufficient to cover
the daily expenses, if it is insufficient what measures the
Government of Orissa should adopt to improve the wage level.

The second objective of the study is to know employment

condition of the agricultural labourers. It is employment that

provides income and puts effective purchasing power in the hands

of people . Therefore, unless adequate employment avenue is

created with the economy the goal of removal of poverty would

continue to elude. Since poverty is a function of unemployment it

will be taken care of automatically if we take care of unemployment.

The creation of more and more employment opportunities with

increasing productivity should be the fundamental objective of a

manpower planning. In agricultural sector seasonal unemployment

is a common issue. Agricultural sector cannot provide employment

to the labourer for the whole year. In the harvesting season the
labourers engaged in agriculture may get full time employment, but in

the off season they remain idle. So one has to find out absorbing

capacity of the sector and the number of labourers depending on

agriculture. If the number of labourers is more the government have
to find out the alternative employment creating sector like fishery and
horticulture which can absorb the surplus labour in agricultural sector.

Orissa has got a very good potential for horticultural production.

 The study will further throw light on the condition of their

family and their position in society. The financial position of a

labourer depends on the wage he earns and the prices of essential
goods and commodities he uses. Generally the financial condition
of the agricultural labourer in Orissa is not sound due to inflationary

trend in the economy. Prices of essential goods and commodities

are steadily rising, reducing the purchasing capacity as the wage

level more or less remains constant for a long period of time.

More over their position in society is not enviable and they are

exploited by the high and middle class people in the society.

Even 54 years after independence and execution of different

Five year plans the condition of labourer engaged in agriculture

instead of progressing has deteriorated. Improvement of agriculture
depends on the efficiency of labour. Labour power is considered

as an input for the production of agricultural output. If the labourer

will be efficient and skilled production will be more and hence

agricultural progress in particular and economic improvement in
general can be accelerated. Progress in agriculture will influence
the progress in Industry. So effort should be made to increase the

marginal productivity of labourer engaged in agriculture.

Hypothesis -

Even after 51 years of planned development it is generally believed

that there are no other people in the community whose condition is

so pathetic, whose daily life is so precarious as that of the agricultural

labourers. This study will bring to light the causes of perpetual poverty

of the agricultural labourers by testing the following hypothesis.

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(I) The agricultural labourer remains unemployed in major part

of the year.

(II) The benefits of the planned development has not acquired

proportionately to the agricultural labourers.

(III) The condition of the agricultural labourer is linked up with

the increase in productivity and production of the agricultural

sector.

Scope and methodology of the study -

This study is titled as “ The socio-economic condition of agricultural

labourer in Ghasipura block of Keonjhar district in Orissa state.
This study has been undertaken with the simple object of knowing
the socio-economic condition of agricultural labourer in Keonjhar

district.The purpose is to find out wages and living conditions,

employment condition and family condition of agricultural labourer.

This survey is naturally expected to project the prevailing conditions

and problems of agricultural labourers. It has already been noted

earlier that this study tries to provide an intimate knowledge of the

inner and working life of the agricultural labourers and their families

by the use of schedules, interviews and direct observations after

i

personal contracts of 300 agricultural households and 336

agricultural labourers.

The study provides intimate details on specific problems

facing agricultural labourers in the district which can be broadly

classified as employment and unemployment, wage structure,

income of agricultural labourer, expenditure and pattern of living,
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savings and indebtedness, housing, rural development and conclusion.

Thus it could be seen that the study, besides presenting the

conditions of agricultural labourer at present , also attempts to
assess the impact of socio-economic development programmes

undertaken in Five year plans. The results of the survey constitute

in evaluating the process of social and economic change among

the agricultural labourer class as well as their attitudes, feelings,

hopes and fears.

This study covers one block ( Ghasipura) of Keonjhar district.

There are 20 panchayats in Ghasipura Block. One village is selected

from each panchayata as sample village for study. From each village
15 agricultural labour households are taken for study. In the sample

village in which the number of agricultural labour household is less

than 15 all the agricultural labour households are surveyed. Attempt

has been made to study the position of agricultural labourer in
relation to each other and to the whole sample to make it clear and
comprehensible by graphic method.

Collective information by the household interview method is

naturally limited by the knowledge of the respondent, the head of

the household in most cases. Because of this limitation, there was
a need for going into the problems and attitudes of agricultural
labourers in depth.

Selection of villages -

A simple random sampling method was adopted to get a

homogenous selection of sample villages. A sample of 20 villages

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as the primary sampling units.-was considered as the modest

number feasible for study by an individual researcher.

This study covers the rural area of Ghasipura block of

Keonjhar district. There are 20 panchayats in Ghasipura block. So

one village is taken from each panchayat as the sampling unit.

There are 165 villages in Ghasipura block of Keonjhar district. The

selection of 20 villages out of 165 in the block gave a control range

of one to nine villages.

While selecting one village from each panchayata the

following points were taken into consideration, (a) availability of

agricultural labourer (b) location of the village ( preference was

given to select the village which is situated in the centre of the

panchayata.). (c) Nearness to transport facility, (d) availability of

cottage and village industries.

Besides all these criteria one important point was considered

much, during the time of selection that is the nature of people and

their willingness to co-operate with the investigator. In some village

people are less co-operative and they feel that the investigator is
a Government agent. Inspite of repeated explanation of the purpose
of study they have hesitation to express their minds.

Selection of the Households -

15 agricultural labour Households in the sample villages were

decided to be covered in the survey. A household includes all
persons who were related by blood, marriage or adoption and who

normally took meals in the same kitchen. The domestic servants,

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farm workers and unrelated boarders residing in the household
were not counted as members of household. The household

therefore constituted all the residing members but excluded guests.

Temporary absentees were however included in it. With this

definition of the household any household which derived 50 percent
or more of the total income from the earnings of the agricultural

labourers constituted the agricultural labour household for the

purpose of this study.

Selection of agricultural labourer -

All persons employed in fields, gardens etc. and performing various

tasks in connection with planting, preparation of soil, ploughing,

sowing, weeding, pruning, harvesting under the direction of some

one else and working in return of payment in each or in kind or in

both were treated as agricultural labourer.

Listing of Households -

The experience gained on the pilot survey made it clear that the
listing of all households in the selected village required much time

and energy. The agricultural labour households were singled out

on a subjective basis by talks with knowledgeable people in the
village like ‘village wardmember’ and ‘village level worker’ and the
agricultural labourer.

In order to minimise any chance of error through wrong listing

by the subjective inclusion of agricultural labour households only

it was considered necessary to test it in two villages. The listing of

agricultural labour households alone could not differ from the

detailed listing of all households in the test. Therefore it was decided
to list the agricultural labour households alone in the sample

villages. After this decision the stage was set for the field survey.

All households of agricultural labour in the sample villages

were listed with the help of a listing schedule , developed for the
purpose. The listing operations were carried out before the regular

interviewing operations were undertaken.

Rating of Household -

As it was decided that 15 agricultural households will be covered

from each sample village, there was need of classifying the
agricultural labour households on the basis of some criteria. The

total agricultural labour households in the sample village were

classified on the basis of the following criteria.

(a) Dependance on agriculture to earn wage.

(b) Possession of land.

(c) Subsidiary occupation.

Those households were chosen for study whose dependance

on agriculture to earn wage is more and possess less amount of
land and engage few days for subsidiary occupation. This technique
not only provided a uniform basis for the study but also presented

complete representativeness.

It could be seen that the selection of households was not

subject to a wide margin of arbitrariness in the hands of an
investigator or an informant as the definition of the labour

household was on a given share of wage income in total income.

Concepts and definitions -

The important concept and definitions used in this study are labour,
agricultural labour, cultivator, family, household, agricultural labour
household , income, household income, earning, agricultural labour

family, employment, unemployment, underemployment, children,

working day and so on.

Many of above terms carry multiple meanings. To remove

any confusion it was decided to define these terms in clear

meanings so that each term may only refer to a single phenomenon.

In adopting the concepts and definitions the definitions adopted

by the First Agricultural Labour Enquiry and the Second Agricultural
Labour Enquiry were kept in mind with an idea to isolate and

recombine those elements which will be useful in the study.

Labour - Any exertion of body or mind undertaken for the sake of

reward or remuneration is labour.

Agriculturai labourers -

They are person employed in fields, gardens etc. and perform

various tasks in connection with planting, preparation of soil,

ploughing, sowing, weeding, pruning, harvesting, plucking fruits

or flowers etc. Their labour is performed under the direction of
someone else and they work in return of payments in cash or in
kind or in both. Thus all those who work in agricultural operation

on wages whether in kind or cash or in both are considered as

agricultural labourers.
Sample Size -

This study has been undertaken in 20 sample villages in 20

panchayatas of Ghasipura block of keonjhar district. The sample

villages were so selected that the selection process gave equi

probability of selection to every village in the block. The sample
village represented the universe in the ratio of 13 percent.

Number of the Households and Agricultural labour Studied -

The number of Agricultural labour households listed in the sample

village according to the adopted definition came to 300.

The total number of agricultural labourers listed in the sample

village was 336. As pointed out earlier agricultural labourer were

accepted from each sample village for study. So the total number

of agricultural labourer accepted for study is 336. All the agricultural

labourer were studied in the sample village where the number fell
below 15.

Treatment of Non Response -

There have been a fewer cases of non response and non­

cooperation in the process of interview. Such cases are either those

in which complete refusal by the respondent was marked or
incomplete or partial response was given by the respondent. Due
to unhelpful and insincere attitude of the respondents, a few cases

also had to be rejected.

In some cases it was found that any responsible member of

the household could not be contacted inspite of number of attempts

made by the researcher.
 As it was decided to cover 15 agricultural labour households
from the sample village for study non co-operative cases were
replaced and new households were picked up for study.

Scope of the Study and the Limitations -

The study is expected to present the prevailing conditions and

problems of agricultural labourers. It has already been noted earlier

that this study tries to provide an intimate knowledge of the life of
the agricultural labourers and their families by the use of schedules,

interviews and direct observations after personal contacts of 300

agricultural labour households and 336 agricultural labourers.

The study provides intimate details on specific problems of the

agricultural labourer in the district such as employment wage structure,

income of agricultural labourer, expenditure and pattern of living,

savings and indebtedness, housing, rural development etc.

Thus it could be seen that the study, besides presenting the

conditions of agricultural labourer at present also attempts to

assess the impact of socio-economic development programmes

undertaken in the Five year plans.

This study is no doubt a limited study. But it is significant as

an attempt has been made to collect primary data and asses the
position on this basis.

In addition an attempt has been made to trace the forces

which are responsible for this condition.

The data in this study may be safely taken as representative

at the district level in drawing generalisations in some cases on

certain problems, which are similar to those prevailing in the district.

Undoubtedly the small number of the sample households can

not reflect the true picture of the agricultural labour households in

the entire state. But the district of the tribal belt of Orissa being
almost similar, this study of Keonjhar district may throw sufficient

light on the socio-economic condition of the agricultural labourers

particularly of tribal rural labour of the state.

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