UNORGANISED RURAL

LABOUR AND THE LAW

Prof. Hanumant Yadav

H.Yadav/rural labo
ur

Agricultural Labour
National Commission of Rural Labour (1991)
39.7 % of total labour household are rural
labour households.
30.7 % of total labour household are
agricultural labour households.
Thus 77 % of total rural labour households
are agricultural labour households. Remaining
are working in non-agricultural occupations.
Majority of marginal farmers with unirrigated
land are also working as agricultural labour.
H.Yadav/rural labo
ur

Agricultural Labour
Small and marginal farmers constitute
70 % of total farmers.
These farmers operate on 24 percent of
agricultural land.
Lowest 10 % land holders possess 0.1 %
of total agricultural land.
Majority of Agricultural labourers belong to
economically and socially backward
communities, viz. SC and ST.
H.Yadav/rural labo
ur

Characteristics of Rural Labour

Unorganized Nature :
Unemployment and
Underemployment are get mixed.
Ignorance and Illiteracy
Heterogeneity

H.Yadav/rural labo
ur

Poor conditions of farm labour

Agricultural labour are poorest among poor of
rural India
CAUSES
Low Social Status
Un-organized
Seasonal Unemployment
Paucity of non-agricultural jobs
Low income (Low wages)
Illiteracy and ignorance
Large size of family (dependent members).
H.Yadav/rural labo
ur

 Constitution and Planning

------------------------------------------------- Launching of Five Year Plans was first step to achieve
the objectives desired by Indian Constitution
Article 14 : Right to Equality
Article 19(1)a : Right to freedom of speech
Article 19 (1)b : Right to assemble peacefully
Article 19 (1)c : Right to form association
Article 19 (1)g : Right to carry on any occupation, trade
or business.
Article 23 and 24 : Right against economic exploitation

H.Yadav/rural labo
ur

Part IV of Indian Constitution spells out the

Socio-Economic objectives of National policy
Article 39(a) : Adequate means of livelihood
Article 41: Right to work, To education, and to
public assistance in case of unemployment, old
age, sickness and disablement.
Article 43: Conditions of work ensuring a
decent standard of life and full employment of
leisure and social and cultural opportunities.
Article 47: Higher level of nutrition and standard
of living.
H.Yadav/rural labo
ur

 The Five Year Plans have 2 basic

objectives :
I) A better standard of living for the
people and II) Social justice.

H.Yadav/rural labo
ur