A STUDY ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS IN PAPANASAM TALUK, THANJAVUR DISTRICT – TAMIL NADU

A thesis submitted to BHARATHIDASAN UNIVERSITY for the award of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ECONOMICS

By S. KAMARAJ, M.A., M.Phil., (Ref.No. 25492/Ph.D.2/Economi/Part-Time/Re-Regn/January 2012)

Under the guidance of Dr. I. MADALAIMARY, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., M.Ed., P.G.D.E., M.B.A., H.O.D. and Associate Professor (Rtd.)

P.G. AND RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS KUNDAVAI NACHIYAAR GOVT. ARTS COLLEGE FOR WOMEN (AUTONOMOUS), THANJAVUR-613 007 TAMIL NADU (INDIA)

JULY 2014

Dr. I. MADALAIMARY, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., M.Ed., P.G.D.E., M.B.A., H.O.D. and Associate Professor (Rtd.), P.G. and Research Department of Economics, Kundavai Nachiyaar Govt. Arts College for Women (Autonomous), Thanjavur-613 007.

Date :

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the thesis entitled A STUDY ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS IN PAPANASAM TALUK, THANJAVUR DISTRICT – TAMIL NADU submitted by Mr.S.KAMARAJ, P.G. and Research Department of Economics, Kundavai Nachiyaar Govt. Arts College for Women (Autonomous), Thanjavur, is a bonafide record of research work done by him under my guidance as a part- time research scholar and that the thesis has not previously formed the basis for the award to the candidate of any degree, diploma, associateship, fellowship or other similar titles. The thesis represents the independent work on the part of the candidate.

(I. MADALAIMARY) Research Adviser

Mr. S. KAMARAJ, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Research Scholar, P.G. and Research Department of Economics, Kundavai Nachiyaar Govt. Arts College (W), (Autonomous) Thanjavur -7.

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this work entitled A STUDY ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS IN PAPANASAM TALUK, THANJAVUR DISTRICT – TAMIL NADU has been carried out originally by me under the guidance and supervision of Dr.I. MADALAIMARY, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., M.Ed., P.G.D.E., M.B.A., HOD and Associate Professor (Rtd.), P.G. and Research Department of Economics, Kundavai Nachiyaar Govt. Arts College, (W), Thanjavur -7 and this work has not been submitted either in whole or in part for any degree at any university.

Place : Thanjavur Date : (S. KAMARAJ) Research Scholar

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Almighty God’s grace and mercy and the determined support and enlightened guidance of a number of persons enabled me to complete this research work.

I am indebted to my guide Dr. I. Madalaimary, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., M.Ed., P.G.D.E., M.B.A., HOD and Associate professor (Rtd.), K.N.G. Arts College for Women (A), Thanjavur, for her constant encouragement was a source of inspiration to me to finish the work on time. For all these I acknowledge her series with great sense of gratitude and academic fidelity.

I wish to thank profoundly to Dr. P.R. Uma Rani, M.Sc., M.Phil., M.Ed., Ph.D., Principal of K.N.G. Arts College for Women (A), Thanjavur, for her valuable suggestions in writing my thesis.

I am thankful to Miss. C. Chitradevi, Head of the Department of Economics, Kunthavai Nachiyaar Govt. Arts College for Women (A), Thanjavur, for her encouragement.

I specially thank the external members of my Doctoral Committee, Dr. J. Govindhadass, Principal, Government Arts and Science College, Karambakkudi, for his academic help and his contribution towards the selection of this research topic.

I express my hearty thanks to Mr. Elammaruthy, Papanasam Taluk Office, for giving related data for finishing the thesis in time.

On the home front, I sincerely thank my wife Mrs. U. Jamuna, M.A., M.Phil., Lecturer in Economics, Thiru.Vi.Ka.Govt. Arts College, Thiruvarur, my father Mr. N. Singaram, my mother S. Lakshmi who have helped me in writing my thesis.

I thank Mr. and Mrs. Nagarajan, Nagu computers for having typed the thesis in the present format. S. Kamaraj LIST OF TABLES

Table Title Page No. 2.1. Agricultural households indebtedness 25 2.2. Population workers 33 2.3. Work participation rate 1981-1991 34 2.4. Women labour in employment 34 3.1. Initial stock and change in share of farm sector state-wise in 90 the rural sector (1981 to 2002) 3.2. Provisional population literates totals – Papanasam Taluk – 101 Census 2011 3.3. Papanasam taluk 104 5.1.1. Number of different groups of agricultural labourers in 113 Ammapet block during 2010-2011 5.1.2. Number of different groups of agricultural labourers in 116 Papanasam block during 2010-11 5.1.3. Number of panchayats and different groups of agricultural 119 labourers in Ammapet block during 2012-13 5.1.4. Number of panchayats and different groups of agricultural 122 labourers in Papanasam block during 2012-13 5.1.5. Different groups of sample agricultural labourers in 125 Ammapet block and Papanasam block during 2010-2011 5.1.6. Different groups of sample agricultural labourers in 127 Ammapet block and Papanasam block during 2012-13. 5.1.7. Community wise distribution of different groups of 129 agricultural labourers in Ammapet block and Papanasam block in the study area during 2010-11 5.1.8. Community wise distribution of different groups of 132 agricultural labourers in Ammapet block and Papanasam block in the study area during 2012-2013 5.1.9. Religion wise distribution of agricultural labourers in the 134 study area during 2010-11 5.1.10. Religion wise distribution of different groups of agricultural 137 labourers in Ammapet block and Papanasam block during 2012-2013 5.1.11. Age wise distribution of Sample agricultural labourers in 140 Ammapet block and Papanasam block in 2010-2011 Table Title Page No. 5.1.12. Age wise distribution of sample agricultural labourers in 142 Ammapet block and Papanasam block during 2012-2013 5.1.13. Marital Status of different groups of agricultural labourers in 144 Ammapet block and Papanasam block during 2010-11 5.1.14. Marital Status of different groups of agricultural labourers in 146 Ammapet block and Papanasam block during 2012-13 5.1.15. Education wise distribution of different groups of agricultural 148 labourers in Ammapet block during 2010-11 5.1.16. Education wise distribution of different groups of agricultural 150 labourers in Ammapet block during 2012-13 5.1.17. Size of the family of agricultural labourers and relationship 152 with respondent of other family members in Ammapet block during 2010-11 5.1.18. Size of the family of agricultural labourers and relationship 154 with the respondent and other family members in Ammapet block and Papanasam block during 2012-13 5.1.19. Intoxicant taking habit of male agricultural labourers among 156 the groups in the study area during 2010-11 5.1.20. Intoxicant drinks taking habit of different groups male 158 agricultural labourers in study area during 2012-13 5.1.21. Tobacco Betelnut chewing and cigarette or Beedy smoking 160 habits of different groups of male and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.1.22. Tobacco Betelnut chewing and cigarette or Beedy smoking 163 habits of different groups of male and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.1.23. Family planning taken by different groups of agricultural 166 labourers in study area during 2010-11 5.1.24. Family planning taken by different groups of female 168 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.1.25. Social status of different groups of agricultural labourers in 170 the study area during 2012-13 5.2.1. Annual number of working days available in agriculture to 173 different groups of male and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.2. Annual number of working days available in agriculture to 176 different groups of male and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 Table Title Page No. 5.2.3. Annual wage income earned by both male and female 180 individual agricultural labour in agriculture in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.4. Annual wage income earned by individual male and female 183 individual agricultural labour in agriculture in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.5. Total amount of annual wage income earned by male and 187 female sample agricultural labourers through agriculture in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.6. Total amount of annual wage income earned by male and 190 female sample agricultural labourers through agriculture in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.7. Annual individual income of male and female agricultural 194 labourers in allied activities in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.8. Annual individual income of male and female agricultural 197 labourers in allied activities in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.9. Total annual allied income earned by different groups of 199 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.10. Total annual allied income earned by different groups of 201 agricultural labourers through allied activities in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.11. Annual individual other income earned by male and female 204 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.12. Annual individual other income earned by male and female 207 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.13. Annual total other income earned by different group of male 210 and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.14. Annual total others income earned by different group of male 213 and female agricultural labourers in study area during 2012- 13 5.2.15. Total annual income earned by male and female agricultural 215 labourers from agriculture allied activities and other household members income in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.16. Total annual income earned by male and female agricultural 217 labourers from agriculture allied activities and other household members income in the study area during 2012-13 Table Title Page No. 5.2.17. Annual individual income received by group II and group III 220 agricultural labourers (marginal and small farmers) in wet land in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.18. Annual individual income received by group II and group III 223 agricultural labourers (marginal and small farmers) in wet land in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.19. Annual income received from wet land owned by group II 227 and group III male and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.20. Annual income received from wet land owned by group II 229 and group III male and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.21. Annual individual expenditure incurred by male and female 231 group II and group III agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.22. Annual individual expenditure incurred by male and female 233 group II and group III agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.23. Annual expenditure spent on wet land for cultivating paddy 235 by group II and group III male and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.24. Annual expenditure spent on wet land for cultivating paddy 237 by group II and group III male and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.25. Annual profit received by group II and group III agricultural 240 male and female labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.26. Annual profit received by group II and group III agricultural 242 male and female labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.27. Annual grand total income received from different sources by 246 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.28. Annual grand total income received from different sources by 249 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.29. Annual expenditure incurred by different group of 253 agricultural labourers in study area during 2010-11 5.2.30. Annual expenditure incurred by different group of 255 agricultural labourers in study area during 2012-13 5.2.31. Grand total net indebtedness of different groups of 259 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 Table Title Page No. 5.2.32. Grand total net indebtedness of different groups of 262 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.33. Annual savings of different groups of agricultural labourers 266 in the study area of Ammapet block during 2010 – 2011 5.2.34. Annual savings of different types of agricultural labourers in 268 the study area of Papanasam block during 2010 – 2011 5.2.35. Annual savings of different groups of agricultural labourers 271 in Ammapet block during 2012 – 2013 5.2.36. Annual savings of different groups of agricultural labourers 273 in Papanasam block during 2012 – 2013 5.2.37. Annual savings of different groups of agricultural labourers 277 in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.38. Annual savings of different groups of agricultural labourers 281 in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.39. Annual borrowings of different groups of agricultural 284 labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.40. Annual borrowings of different groups of agricultural 287 labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.41. Possession of gold sovereign by different groups of male and 291 female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010- 11 5.2.42. Possession of gold sovereign by different groups of male and 294 female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012- 13 5.2.43. Possession of silver ornaments by different groups of male 298 and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.44. Possession of silver ornaments by different groups of male 301 and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.45. Different types of utensils owned by different groups of 305 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.46. Value and different types of utensils possessed by the 310 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.47. Value and different types of vehicles possessed by the 315 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 Table Title Page No. 5.2.48. Value and different types of vehicles possessed by the 318 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.49. Total value of mobile assets possessed by different groups of 321 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.50. Total value of mobile assets possessed by different groups of 325 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.51. Value of different houses possessed by different groups of 329 male and female agricultural labourers in the study area 2010-11 5.2.52. Value of different houses possessed by different groups of 331 male and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.53. Different types of houses owned by different groups of male 334 and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.54. Different types of houses owned by different groups of male 336 and female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.55. Different types of house value of different groups of 338 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.56. Different types of house value of different groups of 343 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.57. Individual possession and value of wet land owned by 348 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.58. Individual possession and value of wet land owned by 350 agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.59. Possession of total wetland by different groups of male and 352 female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010- 11 5.2.60. Possession of total wetland by different groups of male and 354 female agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012- 13 5.2.61. Immovable assets value of different groups of agricultural 357 labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.62. Immovable assets value of different groups of agricultural 360 labourers in the study area during 2012-13 Table Title Page No. 5.2.63. Total value of immovable and movable assets owned by 363 different groups of agricultural labourers in the study area during 2010-11 5.2.64. Total value of immovable and movable assets owned by 367 different groups of agricultural labourers in the study area during 2012-13 5.2.65. Problems faced by agricultural labourers in the study area 372 during 2012-13 (Ammapet and Papanasam blocks) are explained 5.2.66. Employment generation programmes initiated by the central 376 and state government to solve the problems faced by agricultural labourers 5.3.1. Importance of agricultural labourers 383 5.3.2. Difference between agricultural and industrial labourers 385

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Title Page No. 2.1. Upward sloping supply curve of labour 15

2.2. Marginal Productivity Theory 18 4.1. Showing the study areas of the Ammapet and Papanasam 107 Blocks in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu. 5.1. Annual number of working days available in agriculture to 179 different groups of male and female agricultural labourers during the study period 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.2. Annual wage income earned by both male and female 186 individual agricultural labour in agriculture during the study period 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.3. Total amount of annual wage income earned by male and 193 female sample agricultural labourers through agriculture during the study period 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.4. Total annual allied income earned by different groups of 203 agricultural labourers through allied activities during the study period 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.5. Total annual income earned by male and female agricultural 219 labourers from agriculture allied activities and other household members income during the study period 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.6. Annual individual income received by group II and group III 226 agricultural labourers (marginal and small farmers) in wet land during the study period 2010-12 and 2012-13 5.7. Annual expenditure spent on wet land for cultivating paddy 239 by group II and group III male and female agricultural labourers in the study areas during 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.8. Annual profit received by group II and group III agricultural 245 male and female labourers in the study areas during 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.9. Annual grand total income received from different sources by 252 the agricultural labourers during the study period 2010-11 and 2012-13 Figure Title Page No. 5.10. Annual expenditure incurred by different group of 258 agricultural labourers during the study period 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.11. Annual savings of different groups of agricultural labourers in 270 the study area of Ammapet and Papanasam block during 2010 – 2011 5.12. Annual savings of different groups of agricultural labourers in 276 the study area of Ammapet and Papanasam block during 2012 – 2013 5.13. Annual borrowings of different groups of agricultural 290 labourers during the study period 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.14. Possession of gold sovereign by different groups of male and 297 female agricultural labourers during the study period 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.15. Possession of silver ornaments by different groups of male 304 and female agricultural labourers during the study period 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.16. Different types of house value of different groups of 347 agricultural labourers during the study period 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.17. Possession of total wet land by different groups of male and 356 female agricultural labourers during the study period 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.18. Total value of immovable and movable assets owned by 371 different groups of agricultural labourers during the study period 2010-11 and 2012-13 5.19. Problems faced by the agricultural labourers in the study area 375 during 2012-13 (Ammapet and Papanasam blocks) LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AIALA - All India Agricultural Labour Association ALE - Agricultural Labour Enquiry BJP - Bharathiya Janatha Party CDP - Community Development Programme CSRD - Crash Scheme for Rural Development DPAP - Drought – Prone Areas Programme DWCRA - Development of Women and Children in Rural Area EGS - Employment Guarantee Scheme GDP - Gross Domestic Product GIC - Government of India Company GKY - Ganga Kalyan Yojana GPF - Gandhi Peace Foundation HADP - Hill Area Development Project HYVs - High Yield Varieties IISR - Indian Institute of Species Research ILO - International Labour Organization IRDP - Integrated Rural Development Programme JRY - Jawahar Rojgar Yojana LIC - Life Insurance Corporation MENA - Middle East and North Africa MFAL - Marginal Farmers and Agricultural Agency MGNREGA - Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act MGNREGS - Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme MLPC - Mine Labour Protection Campaign MNP - Minimum Needs Programme MPP - Marginal Product Price MRP - Marginal Revenue Productivity MWS - Million Wells Scheme NCAL - National Commission on Agricultural Labour NCRL - National Commission on Rural Labour NLI - National Labour Institute NREP - National Rural Employment Programme NREGS - National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme NREGA - National Rural Employment Guarantee Act NREGAS - National Rural Employment Guarantee Agricultural Scheme NREPT - National Rural Employment Programme Training NSSO - National Sample Survey Organization NSS - National Sample Survey PMGY - Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana RLE - Rural Labour Enquiry RLEGP - Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme RNSS - Round of National Sample Survey SC - Scheduled Caste SCLP - School Children Labour Programme SFDA - Small Farmers Development Agency SGSY - Swarna Jayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana SHGs - Self Help Group Schemes SITRA - Supply of Improved Tool Kits to Rural Artisans ST - Scheduled Tribes TADA - Tribal Area Development Agency TRYSEM - Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment UK - United Kingdom UNESCO - United Nation East South Company UNDP - United Nation Denastic Product UPA - Upper Parliament Act UP - Uttar Pradesh USA - United State of America

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I INTRODUCTION 1

II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND 13 STUDIES

III PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREA 86

IV METHODOLOGY 108

V DATA ANALYSIS 112

VI FINDINGS, POLICY IMPLICATIONS AND 386 CONCLUSIONS

BIBLIOGRAPHY i

APPENDICES ix

I. QUESTIONNAIRE II. PHOTOS

Chapter - I

INTRODUCTION

Chapter - II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Chapter - III

PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREA

Chapter - IV

METHODOLOGY

Chapter - V

DATA ANALYSIS

Chapter - VI

FINDINGS, POLICY IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDICES

Contributions by the Research Scholar