Agricultural Labourers

An agricultural labourer is a person who works on agricultural land for wages, either in cash, kind, or a share of produce, but does not own or lease land for cultivation. Such individuals depend primarily on manual work for their livelihood and constitute one of the most vulnerable groups in the rural economy.
Agricultural labourers play a vital role in India’s agrarian system, forming the backbone of agricultural production, yet they often face issues of poverty, indebtedness, and insecurity of employment.

Definition

An agricultural labourer may be defined as a person:

“Who works on another person’s land for wages, in money, kind, or share, and who has no risk in the cultivation process or in the sale of the produce.”

According to the Census of India (2011):

“An agricultural labourer is a person whose main source of income (50% or more) comes from wages earned by working in agricultural operations.”

They differ from cultivators, who own or lease land and manage cultivation themselves.

Characteristics of Agricultural Labourers

• Landlessness: Most agricultural labourers do not own or control land.
• Seasonal Employment: Employment depends on agricultural cycles—sowing, weeding, and harvesting—resulting in seasonal unemployment during lean periods.
• Low Wages: Generally receive low and irregular wages, often below statutory minimum levels.
• Rural Dependence: Live in rural areas and rely heavily on agriculture and allied activities (like livestock or forestry).
• Indebtedness: Many are trapped in debt due to low income and dependence on moneylenders.
• Social and Economic Backwardness: A significant proportion belong to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
• Lack of Social Security: Absence of formal contracts, job security, or benefits such as insurance and pensions.

Types of Agricultural Labourers

Agricultural labourers can be broadly classified into two categories:

1. Attached Labourers (Bonded or Permanent Labourers):

• Work for a particular employer or landlord on a long-term basis.
• Receive part of their wages in kind (food grains) or cash advances.
• Often bound by social or economic obligations, leading to bonded labour.
• Common in traditional feudal systems.

2. Casual or Migrant Labourers:

• Work for daily wages or during specific agricultural seasons.
• Move from one farm or region to another in search of work.
• Includes inter-state migrant workers, e.g., from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha to Punjab and Haryana.

3. Family Labourers:

• Members of small or marginal farmers’ families who work on others’ land to supplement household income.

4. Contract or Piece-Rate Labourers:

• Employed for specific tasks such as ploughing, harvesting, or threshing, paid per unit of work done.

Causes of the Growth of Agricultural Labour in India

1. Fragmentation of Landholdings:
   • With population growth, family landholdings have become too small for subsistence.
2. Landlessness:
   • Unequal land distribution has forced landless peasants to work as labourers.
3. Decline of Cottage Industries:
   • Collapse of rural handicrafts and traditional industries increased dependence on agriculture.
4. Poverty and Indebtedness:
   • Poor farmers often lose their land due to debt and become labourers.
5. Seasonal Nature of Agriculture:
   • Irregular agricultural operations create a pool of part-time or underemployed rural workers.
6. Rapid Population Growth:
   • High population pressure on limited land resources leads to surplus labour.

Geographical Distribution

Agricultural labourers are unevenly distributed across India, concentrated in densely populated and agriculturally backward regions.
High Concentration Areas:

• Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

Low Concentration Areas:

• Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, where mechanisation and higher productivity have reduced labour dependence.

According to the Census of 2011, agricultural labourers constituted about 55% of the total workforce in agriculture and over 25% of India’s total workforce.

Working Conditions and Problems

1. Low and Irregular Wages:
   • Agricultural labourers often earn below the minimum wage due to weak enforcement.
2. Seasonal Unemployment:
   • Work is available mainly during sowing and harvesting periods, leading to underemployment in lean months.
3. Indebtedness:
   • Many depend on local moneylenders and remain in perpetual debt.
4. Poor Living Conditions:
   • Lack of housing, sanitation, and healthcare in rural areas.
5. Social Discrimination:
   • Labourers belonging to lower castes often face exploitation and exclusion.
6. Lack of Organisation:
   • Weak or non-existent labour unions, limiting bargaining power.
7. Migration and Exploitation:
   • Migrant workers face exploitation, delayed payments, and lack of legal protection.

Wages and Employment Patterns

• Wage System: Payment can be made in cash, kind (grain), or both. In some areas, wages are linked to output (piece rate).
• Regional Variation: Wages vary widely across states—higher in Punjab and Haryana, lower in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha.
• Gender Inequality: Women agricultural labourers often receive lower wages than men for similar work.

Government Measures and Welfare Schemes

The government has undertaken various measures to improve the conditions of agricultural labourers:

1. Legislative Measures:
   • Minimum Wages Act, 1948: Fixes minimum wage rates for agricultural workers.
   • Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976: Prohibits bonded labour.
   • Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970: Protects contract-based rural workers.
2. Employment and Income Programmes:
   • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005: Provides 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in rural areas.
   • Rural Works Programme (RWP) and Food for Work Programme (FFWP) for rural job creation.
3. Social Welfare Measures:
   • Provision of housing schemes (Indira Awaas Yojana, now PMAY–Gramin).
   • Health and education programmes targeting rural workers’ families.
4. Skill Development Initiatives:
   • Programmes for agricultural training and rural skill enhancement to improve employability.

Role in Indian Agriculture and Economy

• Agricultural labourers are crucial for manual operations like sowing, transplanting, weeding, and harvesting.
• Their contribution ensures continuity of agricultural production, especially in small and marginal farms.
• They form a labour reserve for the non-farm sector, supporting rural diversification and migration.
• Despite their contribution, they remain economically and socially disadvantaged, highlighting the need for inclusive rural development policies.

Suggestions for Improvement

1. Land Reforms: Redistribution of surplus land and secure tenancy rights.
2. Employment Security: Expansion of MGNREGA and rural industrialisation.
3. Wage Regulation: Strict enforcement of minimum wages and equal pay for equal work.
4. Skill Development: Training in modern agricultural and non-farm skills.
5. Social Protection: Access to healthcare, education, and social insurance schemes.
6. Cooperatives and Organisation: Encouraging unionisation for collective bargaining.