Size and Composition of Agricultural Labour in India
Agricultural labour is a critical component of India’s rural workforce. These are people who work on agricultural land owned by others for wages in cash or kind, and they do not possess or cultivate significant land of their own. Over time, the number of agricultural labourers in India has grown substantially due to land fragmentation, poverty, and lack of alternative employment in rural areas.
Let’s discuss the size and composition of agricultural labour in India in detail:
1. Size of Agricultural Labour in India
a. Increase Over Time
- In 1951, there were around 7.5 crore cultivators and 2.7 crore agricultural labourers.
- As per the Census 2011, the number of agricultural labourers increased to around 14.4 crore, while the number of cultivators stood at around 11.9 crore.
- As per Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2022-23, agriculture still employs about 45–50% of the Indian workforce.
b. Percentage in Rural Workforce
- Agricultural labourers account for nearly 30–35% of the total rural workforce.
- In some states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, the percentage is even higher, often crossing 40%.
c. Growth Due to Landlessness
- With population pressure, landholdings have fragmented, pushing many small farmers to become landless labourers.
- Marginal farmers (with less than 1 hectare of land) are often forced to work as labourers on others’ land to supplement income.
2. Composition of Agricultural Labour in India
a. Land Ownership Pattern
- Most agricultural labourers are landless or own very small pieces of land (often less than 0.5 hectares).
- They do not engage in self-cultivation, or even if they do, it is not sufficient for survival.
b. Nature of Employment
- Casual Employment: Most are engaged on a seasonal and temporary basis, depending on sowing and harvesting seasons.
- Daily Wage Basis: They are paid daily or per task, and do not have job security.
- Migrant Workers: Many labourers from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, etc., migrate to Punjab and Haryana during harvest season for temporary work.
c. Gender Composition
- A significant portion of agricultural labourers are women, especially in operations like:
- Sowing
- Weeding
- Harvesting
- Transplanting
- However, women’s work is often undervalued and underpaid, and they receive less wages than male workers.
d. Social Composition
- A large portion of agricultural labourers come from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
- They have low social mobility, poor education levels, and are often socially and economically marginalized.
- Child labour is also present in some pockets, especially during harvest season.
e. Regional Distribution
- Eastern and central India have a higher proportion of agricultural labourers due to land scarcity and poverty.
- In Punjab and Haryana, although mechanization is higher, seasonal labour is still in demand for harvesting.
3. Wages and Working Conditions
- Low Wages: Daily wages for agricultural labourers vary across states, ranging from ₹200 to ₹400 per day, depending on region and task.
- No Formal Contracts: Most labourers work without contracts or benefits such as medical care, pension, or job security.
- Exploitation: Due to lack of bargaining power, they often face exploitation by landowners or middlemen.
- Underemployment: Agricultural labourers are employed for only 100 to 150 days in a year, leading to seasonal unemployment.
4. Impact of Government Schemes
To support agricultural labourers, the government has launched several initiatives:
- MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act):
- Provides 100 days of guaranteed wage employment per year.
- Offers an alternative source of income during the agricultural off-season.
- Rural Skill Development Schemes:
- Schemes like DDU-GKY (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana) aim to train and skill rural youth for non-agricultural jobs.
- Social Security Schemes:
- PM Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana offers pension for unorganised workers including agricultural labourers.
- Ayushman Bharat provides health insurance.
5. Challenges Faced by Agricultural Labourers
- Low and irregular income
- Lack of social security
- Poor working conditions
- No legal protections in unorganised sector
- Seasonal and disguised unemployment
- Illiteracy and lack of awareness about rights and schemes
Conclusion
Agricultural labourers are the backbone of India’s rural economy, yet they remain one of the most vulnerable and exploited sections. Their numbers are growing due to landlessness and poverty, but their working conditions, wages, and security are still poor. Addressing their challenges through labour reforms, education, skilling, and employment guarantees is essential for achieving inclusive rural development in India.