Comparative analysis of characteristics of women labourers engaged in rice farming in the social systems of Kollam and Kanyakumari districts

Abstract

The study aimed at analyzing the labour efficiency of women agricultural labourers. The study was conducted in Kollam district of Kerala and Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. A total of 300 women agricultural labourers were selected, 150 from each district using random sampling. The labour efficiency was measured with the help of a scale consisting of 32 items developed for the study. The data on the labour efficiency of women agricultural labourers and on the nineteen socio-personal and psychological characteristics of the women agricultural labourers were collected using a structured interview schedule. The dimensions of labour efficiency identified empirically were ’determination in work situation’, ‘inter – personal relationship’, ‘confidence’, ‘adjustability’, ‘team spirit’, ‘commitment’, ‘work environment’, competency, ‘socio-economic’ and ‘situational’. In general, the women agricultural labourers of both the districts were low in labour efficiency. The dimension – wise analysis of labour efficiency showed that majority of them belonged to high group under the dimensions ‘adjustability’ and ‘competency’ whereas majority had low efficiency with respect to the other dimensions. The factors influencing labour efficiency was in the order of period of employment, supervision by employer, wages and incentives provided, availability of alternative work, training of labourers, nature of tools and implements used, introduction of new machinery and progressive technology, increasing standard of living, adaptability to different tasks and physical condition of labourers. The variables namely caste, intrinsic motivation, independence, cosmopolite orientation, economic motivation, values related to agriculture, satisfaction, gregariousness, attitude towards scientific agriculture, innovativeness and alienation were found to be significantly contributing to labour efficiency. Total number of days of employment of women agricultural labourers in Kollam district was 207 (82 as agricultural and 125 as non-agricultural labour) and in Kanyakumari district it was 182 (78 as agricultural and 104 as non-agricultural labour). The peak season of employment was January – March in both the districts. There was relatively slack in employment during July – August and November –December in Kollam district and during August – September and December in Kanyakumari district. The average annual income from agricultural and non-agricultural labour was Rs. 3610.00 and Rs. 5447.50 in Kollam district, whereas it was Rs. 2695.00 and Rs. 3327.50 in Kanyakumari district respectively.