Agrarian Crisis, Farmers’ Suicides, and Livelihood Security of Rural Labour in India [1]

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ggrarian Crisis, Farmers’ Suicides, and Livelihood Security of Rural Labour in India Volume II Livelihood Security Issues and Resolutions

Edited by K. K. BAGCHI

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AGRARIAN CRISIS, FARMERS’ SUICIDE-IS, AND LWELIHDOD SECURITY OF RURAL LABOUR IN INDIA

First Published 2065 L3 Reserved

ISBN 9T8-81-B9386-6|]-3 (vat. 1) ISBN 9?'B-81-B9886-61-5 (Vol. II) [saw srs-s1-sssss-sz-2 (Set) [All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or used in any form or by any means, whether electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission from the author or publisher, except for a brief quotations in critical articles or reviews. The onus of establishing authenticity and originality is entirely with the contributors. The publisher and Editor are in no way responsible for the facts and views expressed by the contributors.]

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Published by ].s:. Singli for Abhijeet Publications, Delhi iioosu. Lasertypeset by Gaurav Graphics, Delhi and Printed at Hirnanshu Printers, Delhi.

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Preface Sr Acknowledgements

The present volume is a collection of papers contributed by dedicated researchers in the field of agrarian studies and rural labour. The book deals with three very important issues of contemporary concern in India. These are the issues of agrarian crisis, farmers’ suicides and livelihood security of

rural lalour. The issues have been incorporated into two volumes. In Volume I, studies related to agrarian crisis and farmers’ suicides have been included, while Volume II incorporates the studies related to livelihood security and other issues related with agricultural and rural labourers. It is hoped that the book will be useful to researchers, acadernicians and

policy makers and administrators alike who have an interest in the topics and who are somehow related and concerned with the issues. ‘While acknowledging my indebtedness to individuals and institutions, first and foremost I express my heartfelt gatitude to all the esteemed contributors for their unhesitating response to make their valuable contributions for the book. While editing the book I have received a lot of encouragement from the contributors, well-wishers as well as from the publisher. I am grateful to all of them. I am especially thankful to Mr. Iitendra Kumar Singh, the efficient steward of Abhijeet Publications and his staff at the press for bringing out this volume within a short span of time. Last but not the least, I express my gratitude to my parents, children and wife for providing me with their ungruclging moral support to undertake and complete the work.

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Contents

Preface Er‘ Acknowledgsmerrts Contributors Introduction

(vi (xi) (xvii)

VOLUME I ISSUES IN AGRARIAN CRISIS AND FARMERS’ SUICIDES 1 . Agricultural Labour, Policy of WTU and 3 Farmers’ Suicides in Indian States SN. Trfpulhy 2. Agrarian Crisis and Livelihood Security of Rural 22 Labour in India A. Seugamflhra 3. Gathering Agrarian Crisis—Farrners' Suicides 34 K. Veuitlro and D. Krrmor -'-I. Agrarian Distress and Farmers’ Suicides 52 Refresh A. Ioshi 5. The Ailing Agriculture 58 A. Choudrosekorun 6. Agrarian Crisis in India: Reasons and Remedies .71 P. Mercy Kumori, MN. Sroermr and B.5. Roo F". Agrarian Crisis and Rural Labour in India 30

5.1-1'. Dlrogs o so. Lobe

B. Agrarian Crisis in Indian Agriculture K. Vorrilha and D. Kronor

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Growth of Indian Agriculture: A Great Dilemma IDS of New Economic Policy Rodholrrushira Panda Displacement and Replacement of Workers in I30 Agriculture: An Enquiry of Push and Pull Elements K.R. Pfllof Climate Change: An Emerging Major Challenge 139 for Indian Farmers 5. Pothek and H. Potlurlr Agrarian Distress and Indebtedness in Orissa: 155 Nature, Dimension and People's Resilience Bosorrto K. Soho Causes and Implications of Indebtedness Among 196 Marginal Farmer-Cum-Agricultural Labourers of Assam—A Case Study of Barpeta District Tilrsu Chandra Dos An Economic Analysis of Agricultural Labourer 223 in Hyderabad Karnataka Region

K.A. Rosure, Clroirrrabosoorrnogorrdo P. Er Eoklrol Nogerrdroppc The Recent Agrarian Crisis in India and 234 Livelihood Security for Farmers and Agricultural Labourers: A Study in Koraput District of Drissa B. Esroor Reo Potrrailr Agrarian Crisis and Agricultural Labour in 246

Punjab Sulrhpol Singlr, I-L5. Kirrgro and T.K. Dholfrool Agrarian Crisis in Thanjavur and Rural Labour:

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An Emerging Trend

S. Rrrrrracharrdrorr 8 R. Elrmgo

Class Differentiation, Liberalization Policy and

256

Labour Absorption: Some Paradoxes of Efficiency with and without Agrarian‘Capitalism in Two Agro-Ecological Regions in West Bengal Sudiptrr Bhottrrcheryya Women in the World of Work: A Brief Review 325 Morriklal Adhilrory Er Modhuri Adhikory Status of Rural Female Work Force Participation 34'? Rates in India D. Pulls Roo

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fix} ‘VOLUME II LIVELIHOUD SECURITY ISSUES AND RESDLUTIDNS

Agricultural Labour in India: Some Emerging 3 Livelihood Issues and Resolutions Sfbrorijorr Misro and Ioydso Misrrr Agricultural Labour Force: An Overview of 1'? Livelihood Security Morriklnl Adhikory Er Srourrnti Moily Risk-bearing Capacity and Livelihood Security 29 of Rural Households in India 5.K. Taprrsrri Rural Non-Farm Sector Employment and Village B1 Size: Establishment of Some Linkages S.K. Yudoo, Vrmrlrrrra Slruklrt 5' Rrrdlrey Shyrrm Rural Livelihood and Livestock Rearing 99 D. Krrmrir, T. Sridakar Er B. Mohamed Rofeeq Role of Information and Communication I21 Technology in Expanding Livelihood Opportunities A. Thomas S‘ M.A. Sudlrir Rural Development Programmes and Policies: I37 Some Ground Realities Adyo Presod Prrrrdry Agrarian Crisis and Livelihood Security of Rural I54 Labour Through Rural Development Programmes in India Brigade, Dottotrrry 5. Emergence of Biovillage, Eco-Farming System 173 and Food Security in India R. Bolosubromorriyrm

Condition of Labour in the Milieu of Special 18? Economic Zones Mrririlclol Arllrikory S‘ Srrrrrrot Cirorrrilrrrri Agrarian Crisis Reduces Through Micro 209 Irrigation: A Study of Mahaboobnagar District of Andhra Pradesh B.l/. Roghrroemfor, K. Mnlrrrrdrrr Kronor Er B5. Roo

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(I) Livelihood Security of Labourers in Tea

223

Plantation: Trail of Facts in Regions of North Bengal hfurrfklel Adlrflmry Er Arrimeslr Delmetlr Exploration of Alternate Avenues of Employment 24?

for Dustee Farmers and Rural Agricultural Labourers: A Case Study of Gurgaon Town of Haryana

S.K. Yedeo Agrarian Distress in Kerala: Implications for 2'?2 Rural Livelihood Rojeeo C. Blmrothorr Livelihood Security of Rural Labour in 289 Maharashtra—A Focus on Alternative Avenues A.B. Deogirflcor 5' 1'15. Topere Unemployment, Food Insecurity and Agrarian ' 298 Crisis in KBK Districts of Drissa SN. Trfpatlry Emerging Agrarian Crisis and Options for 31'? Creation of Employment and Income Opportunities in Uttarakhand (3.5. Metric Inter-Regional Variation of Rural Non33'? Agricultural Employment in a District of West

Bengal Rothirrdra Nell: Pronrarrik Land-Use Transformation Through Small Tea 361 Plantation as a Rural Livelihood Security Strategy: A Case Study of North Bengal Tomas Rrmjarr Mrrjrrrndar Employment Guarantee Act: An Unfinished 394 Agenda and the Task Ahead Iirgoirrralh Lerrlru -Er Mfrroti Mollick Pattern of Employment and Unemployment in 402 Drissa: A Time Series Analysis C.R. Dos S’ R.K. Panda

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Contributors

VOLUME I

Dr. S.l\l. Tripathy is Professor in Economics, Mahatma Gandhi Labour Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Dr. A. Sangamithra is Lecturer at the Department of Economics, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore—641 G46.

K. Vanitha is Lecturer in Economics, ].]. College of Education, Pudukkottai. Dr. D. Kurnar is Senior Scale Lecturer in Economics, Iamal Mohamed College,Trichy Dr. Rakesh A. Joshi is Reader, Department of Economics, Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Gujarat. Dr. A. Chandrasekaran is Reader in Economics, C.l\l. College, Erode - 633 DB4. P. Mercy Ku mari is Ph.D. Scholar in Economics, Acharya blagarjuna University, Guntur — 522 510, Andhra Pradesh. MN. Swarna is Ph.D. Scholar in Economics, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur — 522 510, Andhra Pradesh. Dr. B. S. Rao, Professor, Dept. of Economics, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur — 522 510, Andhra Pradesh.

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Dr. S. K. Dhage is Reader and I-I.O.D. of Economics, Baburaoji Gholap College, Sangvi, Pune-2?. Dr. B. G. Lobo is Lecturer of Economics, Sinhgad Institute, N. B. Navale College of Commerce, Lonavala, Pune-III. K. Vanitha is Lecturer in Economics, I.I. College of Education, Pudukkottai. Dr. D. Kumar is Senior Scale Lecturer in Economics, lamal Mohamed College, Trichy. Dr. Radhakrushna Panda is Faculty in Economicsf Quantitative Methods, ICFAI National College, Budharaja, Sambalpur-268001, Orissa. Dr. I(.R. Pillai is Sr. Post Graduate Teacher, The Indian School, Kingdom of Bahrain. Sri S. Pathak is National Sample Survey Organization, Bankura, West Bengal F22 101. Sri H. Pathak is International Rice Research Institute, India Office, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012. Dr. Basanta K. Sahu is Asst. Professor, Economics Area, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade(Deemed University), New Delhi - 110016, India, Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Dr. Tiken Chandra Das is Reader in Economics, B. B.

Kisan College, Ialah, Dist. Barpeta, Assam. Dr. K.A. Rasure is Reader in Economics, Nrupatunga Arts, Commerce Management Gr Science College, SEDAM - 585222 Dist. Gulbarga, Karnataka. Channabasavanagouda P. is Research Scholars,

Department of Economics, Gulbarga University, Gulbarga- 535106, Karna taka. Bokkal blagendrappa is Research Scholars, Department of Economics, Gulbarga University, Gulbarga- 585106, Karnataka. Dr. B. Eswar Rao Palnaik is Reader in Economics S.B.R.G Women's College Berhampur- T150 DUI, Dist. Ganjam, Orissa.

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Dr. Sukhpal Singh, is with Department of Economics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 O02. Dr. I~I.S. Kingra, is with Department of Economics,

Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 D02. Dr. T. K. Dhaliwal, is with Department of Economics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana»141 D02 Dr. S. Ramachandran is Research Officer, Dr. Ambedkar Centre for Economic Studies, University of Madras. Dr. R. Elango is Former Professor 8: Head, Department

of Economics, Dean Faculty of Arts, Annamalai University. Dr. Sudipta Bhattacharyya is Reader in Economics, Department of Economics and Politics, Visva-Bharati, West Bengal, India. Dr. Manilclal Adhikary is a Professor in Economics, Burdwan University. Mrs. Madhuri Adhikary is an assistant teacher in Economics, St. Xavier's School, Burdwan. Dr. D. Pulla Rao is Associate Professor, Dept. of Cooperation Er Applied Economics, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, A.P. ‘VOLUME II

Dr. Sibranjan Misra is Professor of Economics, Department of Economics and Politics, Visva-Bharati. Sri Iaydev Misra is Research Scholar, Department of Economics and Politics, Visva-Bharati. Ms. Shrabanti Maity is (Resea rch Scholar in Economics, B.U.}, Assistant Teacher in Economics, Belkulai C .lu-Q-u-at-uw|.»-mesa Iypnlli.

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CARE(2002)hasexp|enedfl|evlewthatthepoorpeople

are relentlessly facing various risks and ‘mu that make them vulnerable and their livelihood options become sparse. This is exhibited in the box above (page 12). The vulnerable

population as likely to be more exposed to livelihood insecurity due to natural and human-mused emergencies. no problem mitigation and development interventions are interrelated of livelihood can be solved through relief, relubilitationl

activities of the government and NCO; depending on the

specificobiectivcsmtmditiensand mien-sinuufltieemergemy situation. Let US lllk lbflllt the Mi plinlififln il\ ill! district of

Darjeeling‘ The tea plantation in the district of Darjeeling is one hundred fifty years 01¢. 1| ma - tradition of producing

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Livelihhod Security of Labourers in Tea Plantation

235

flavoured tea which was once upon a time exported to England for Queen Elizabeth. It was mostly organized and it produced world-clam quality of tea the demand for which was world wide. In the decade of'eighties, more than one lakh workers in West Bengal got their employment and livelihood from Darjeeling tea plantations. In the present day scenario, the figure of employment for males and females in tea plantations of Darjeeling has been almost halved.

it's a matter of shock that such an organized sector of once upon a time is no longer capable of generating source of livelihood for the increasing hill people. Lalit Premlal Tirkey (21135) has pointed out that the illiterate or semi-illiterate casual workers are overly dependent on tea plantation and their livelihood is insecure not only due to the management strategies but also due to their own insecurity in the socio-

economic context. ' '

Figure-ll. Nin|lteral'Tc| Plantations in the District efllarjeeling in the F-cried Priuranl Posterior tn Independence

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One striking fact is that the number of tea plantation in the district of Darjeeling in the post-independence period has

been steadily declining (Figure-3). But, we don't find any symptom of decline in area total or per plantation under tea cultivation (Figure-4}. Rather, the landed area under tea cultivation per plantation has not at all declined over time;

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Agrarian Cristy Fin‘lIkn' 50313, and Uv!Illl0lItl..

mhei we I\O\E some i.I\dll\ing trend (Figure—5 and Fig\lN— 6). This implies two things. First, the per hectare tea productivity has declined. Sewnd, to counter-balance the

decline in yield rate, the Ownns of the tea phntatimu hive

em the strategy of reducing emplovyman of lib0\lI2‘l'i am;

with curtailing the requisite amaiities for their survival. This has led to tltdanger the livelihood 5¢(lll'i|y of the l-boumi ah tea gardens ih Darjeeeling. Ill.

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