Lok Sabha Question No. 1219 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Farm and Non-farm Workers
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: RABINDRA KUMAR JENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1219

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 23 RD  NOVEMBER, 2016

## FARM AND NON-FARM WORKERS

## 1219. SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the percentage and absolute number of farm and non-farm workers in India currently;
- (b) whether  this  number  changed  from  2000-2001  and  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether the decadal change in the number and percentage of farm and  non-farm  workers  calculated  by  NSSO  and  Census  showed diametrically opposite results;
- (d)
- (e)
- if so, the details and the reasons therefor;
- if not, the actual figures in this regard; and
- (f) the  State-wise  farm  and  non-farm workers and percentage of each category in the last three periods of data collected?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  FOR  STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION  [SHRI D.V. SADANANDA GOWDA]

(a) & (b): National Sample Survey (NSS) on Employment & Unemployment and the Population Census capture information on workers in agriculture and  non-agriculture  sectors.  For  the  purpose  of  calculating  decadal change, estimates of workers are available from NSS  on Employment & Unemployment conducted during 1999-2000 and 2011-2012.  Estimates of workers in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors based on NSS 19992000 and NSS 2011-2012 and decadal changes therein are given below:

| Period    | Number (in '00)   | Number (in '00)   | Percentage   | Percentage      |
|-----------|-------------------|-------------------|--------------|-----------------|
|           | agriculture       | non-agriculture   | agriculture  | non-agriculture |
| 1999-2000 | 22,55,679         | 13,98,060         | 61.7         | 38.3            |
| 2011-2012 | 20,56,222         | 21,48,289         | 48.9         | 51.1            |
| Change    | -1,99,457         | 7,50,229          | -12.8        | 12.8            |

Last two Population Censuses have been conducted during the years 2001 and  2011.    Details  of  workers  in  Agricultural  (cultivators  &  agricultural labourers)  and  non-agricultural  sectors  as  per  above  Censuses  are  as under:

| Period   | Number (in '00)   | Number (in '00)   | Percentage   | Percentage      |
|----------|-------------------|-------------------|--------------|-----------------|
|          | agriculture       | non-agriculture   | agriculture  | non-agriculture |
| 2001     | 23,40,882         | 16,81,465         | 58.2         | 41.8            |
| 2011     | 26,31,425         | 21,87,464         | 54.6         | 45.4            |
| Change   | 2,90,543          | 5,05,999          | -3.6         | 3.6             |

- (c) to (e): Definitions and estimates of worker from the National Sample Survey  (NSS)  and  the  Population  Census  are  methodologically  different and therefore, are not comparable.  As against sample approach in NSS, the Population Census follows the approach of complete enumeration.  In addition,  other  major  reasons,  for  which  results  of  NSSO  surveys  and Census  figures  are  not  comparable,  are  given  in  the  Statement  at Annexure I.
- (f): NSSO present results of its employment and unemployment surveys as  per  1000  distribution  of  workers,  labour  force,  etc.  The  State-wise distribution  of  workers  in  Agriculture  and  non-Agriculture  sectors  based on last three employment and unemployment surveys of NSSO are given in Statement at Annexure II.

## Annexure-I

## Statement referred to in reply to parts (c) to (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1219 for 23.11.2016

Additional  major  reasons  for  which  results  of  NSSO  surveys  and Census figures are not comparable

| Item                       | NSSO                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Census                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Reference & Survey periods | Reference period for determining activity status of a person used for classification of person as worker/ unemployed/ out of labour force is 365 days preceding the date of survey and survey is conducted during the period July-June (i.e., one year duration).                            | Reference period for determining a person as worker/ non-worker is one year preceding the date of enumeration. Population enumeration is undertaken between 9 th to 28 th February (both days inclusive) of the Census year and the enumeration of houseless population is carried out on the night of 28 th February. The Census moment is 00:00 hours of 1 st March of the Census year. |
| Worker                     | Persons who, during the reference period, were engaged in any economic activity or who, despite their attachment to economic activity, temporarily abstained from work for reasons of illness, injury or other physical disability, bad weather, festivals, social or religious functions or | Work is defined as participation in any economically productive activity with or without compensation, wages or profit. Such participation may be physical and/or mental in nature. Work involves not only actual work but also includes effective supervision and direction of work. It even                                                                                             |

Contd…

|                 |    | other contingencies constituted workers .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | includes part time help or unpaid work on farm, family enterprise or in any other economic activity. All persons engaged in 'work' as defined above are workers. Persons who are engaged in cultivation or milk production even solely for domestic consumption are also treated as workers.                                                                                                    |
|-----------------|----|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Estimate worker | of | Worker in usual status (ps+ss): The workers in the usual status (ps+ss) are obtained by considering the usual principal status (ps) and the subsidiary status (ss) together. The workers in the usual status (ps+ss) include (a) the persons who worked for a relatively long part of the 365 days preceding the date of survey and (b) the persons from among the remaining population who had worked at least for 30 days during the reference period of 365 days preceding the date of survey. | In population census for collection of information of worker two concepts were used: (i) Main Workers: Those workers who had worked for the major part of the reference period (i.e. 6 months or more) are termed as Main Workers. (ii) Marginal Workers: Those workers who had not worked for the major part of the reference period (i.e. less than 6 months) are termed as Marginal Workers. |

## Annexure-II Statement referred to in reply to parts (f) of Lok Sabha Unstarred

## Question No. 1219 for 23.11.2016

Per 1000 distribution of workers in usual status (ps+ss) in agriculture and non-agriculture  sectors  for  each  State/UT  during  2004-05,  2009-10  and 2011-12

|                   | 61 st Round (2004-05)   | 61 st Round (2004-05)   | 61 st Round (2004-05)   | 61 st Round (2004-05)   | 66 th Round (2009-10)   | 66 th Round (2009-10)   | 66 th Round (2009-10)   | 66 th Round (2009-10)   | 68 th Round (2011-12)   | 68 th Round (2011-12)   | 68 th Round (2011-12)   | 68 th Round (2011-12)   |
|-------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
|                   | rural                   | rural                   | urban                   | urban                   | rural                   | rural                   | urban                   | urban                   | rural                   | rural                   | urban                   | urban                   |
| State/UT          | agriculture             | non- agriculture        | agriculture             | non- agriculture        | agriculture             | non- agriculture        | agriculture             | non- agriculture        | agriculture             | non- agriculture        | agriculture             | non- agriculture        |
| (1)               | (2)                     | (3)                     | (4)                     | (5)                     | (6)                     | (7)                     | (8)                     | (9)                     | (10)                    | (11)                    | (12)                    | (13)                    |
| Andhra Pradesh    | 718                     | 282                     | 100                     | 900                     | 687                     | 313                     | 53                      | 947                     | 695                     | 305                     | 49                      | 951                     |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 819                     | 181                     | 111                     | 889                     | 757                     | 243                     | 140                     | 860                     | 779                     | 221                     | 147                     | 853                     |
| Assam             | 743                     | 257                     | 48                      | 952                     | 705                     | 295                     | 27                      | 973                     | 620                     | 380                     | 44                      | 956                     |
| Bihar             | 779                     | 221                     | 205                     | 795                     | 669                     | 331                     | 146                     | 854                     | 676                     | 324                     | 94                      | 907                     |
| Chhattisgarh      | 862                     | 138                     | 133                     | 867                     | 849                     | 151                     | 53                      | 947                     | 851                     | 149                     | 149                     | 851                     |
| Delhi             | 72                      | 928                     | 1                       | 999                     | 0                       | 1000                    | 1                       | 999                     | 20                      | 980                     | 0                       | 1000                    |
| Goa               | 353                     | 647                     | 48                      | 952                     | 239                     | 761                     | 14                      | 986                     | 46                      | 954                     | 31                      | 969                     |
| Gujarat           | 773                     | 227                     | 62                      | 938                     | 783                     | 217                     | 53                      | 947                     | 746                     | 254                     | 43                      | 957                     |
| Haryana           | 641                     | 359                     | 112                     | 888                     | 598                     | 402                     | 53                      | 947                     | 579                     | 422                     | 62                      | 938                     |
| Himachal Pradesh  | 696                     | 304                     | 85                      | 915                     | 629                     | 371                     | 85                      | 915                     | 633                     | 367                     | 84                      | 916                     |
| Jammu & Kashmir   | 639                     | 361                     | 141                     | 859                     | 597                     | 403                     | 110                     | 890                     | 509                     | 491                     | 88                      | 912                     |
| Jharkhand         | 700                     | 300                     | 118                     | 882                     | 548                     | 452                     | 52                      | 948                     | 606                     | 394                     | 37                      | 963                     |
| Karnataka         | 810                     | 190                     | 82                      | 918                     | 757                     | 243                     | 94                      | 906                     | 702                     | 298                     | 78                      | 922                     |
| Kerala            | 420                     | 580                     | 157                     | 843                     | 357                     | 643                     | 110                     | 890                     | 314                     | 686                     | 87                      | 913                     |
| Madhya Pradesh    | 825                     | 175                     | 121                     | 879                     | 824                     | 176                     | 98                      | 902                     | 721                     | 279                     | 111                     | 889                     |
| Maharashtra       | 800                     | 200                     | 68                      | 932                     | 794                     | 206                     | 47                      | 953                     | 771                     | 229                     | 45                      | 955                     |
| Manipur           | 693                     | 307                     | 283                     | 717                     | 534                     | 466                     | 205                     | 795                     | 455                     | 545                     | 200                     | 800                     |
| Meghalaya         | 818                     | 182                     | 20                      | 980                     | 707                     | 293                     | 58                      | 942                     | 663                     | 337                     | 48                      | 952                     |
| Mizoram           | 874 126                 |                         | 361                     | 639                     | 806                     | 194                     | 360                     | 640                     | 758                     | 242                     | 268                     | 732                     |

Contd…

Per 1000 distribution of workers in usual status (ps+ss) in agriculture and non-agriculture  sectors  for  each  State/UT  during  2004-05,  2009-10  and 2011-12

|                      | 61 st Round (2004-05)   | 61 st Round (2004-05)   | 61 st Round (2004-05)   | 61 st Round (2004-05)   | 66 th Round (2009-10)   | 66 th Round (2009-10)   | 66 th Round (2009-10)   | 66 th Round (2009-10)   | 68 th Round (2011-12)   | 68 th Round (2011-12)   | 68 th Round (2011-12)   | 68 th Round (2011-12)   |
|----------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
|                      | rural                   | urban                   | rural                   | urban                   | rural                   | urban                   | rural                   | urban                   | rural                   | urban                   | rural                   | urban                   |
| State/ UT            | agriculture             | non- agriculture        | agriculture             | non- agriculture        | agriculture             | non- agriculture        | agriculture             | non- agriculture        | agriculture             | non- agriculture        | agriculture             | non- agriculture        |
| (1)                  | (2)                     | (3)                     | (4)                     | (5)                     | (6)                     | (7)                     | (8)                     | (9)                     | (10)                    | (11)                    | (12)                    | (13)                    |
| Nagaland             | 793                     | 207                     | 129                     | 871                     | 741                     | 259                     | 219                     | 781                     | 767                     | 233                     | 178                     | 822                     |
| Odisha               | 690                     | 310                     | 139                     | 861                     | 676                     | 324                     | 103                     | 897                     | 623                     | 378                     | 141                     | 859                     |
| Punjab               | 669                     | 331                     | 59                      | 941                     | 618                     | 382                     | 83                      | 917                     | 524                     | 476                     | 57                      | 943                     |
| Rajasthan            | 729                     | 271                     | 139                     | 861                     | 633                     | 367                     | 70                      | 930                     | 608                     | 392                     | 68                      | 932                     |
| Sikkim               | 605                     | 395                     | 2                       | 998                     | 539                     | 461                     | 0                       | 1000                    | 728                     | 272                     | 15                      | 986                     |
| Tamil Nadu           | 654                     | 346                     | 83                      | 917                     | 637                     | 363                     | 136                     | 864                     | 512                     | 488                     | 105                     | 895                     |
| Tripura              | 432                     | 568                     | 41                      | 959                     | 306                     | 694                     | 21                      | 979                     | 308                     | 692                     | 33                      | 967                     |
| Uttarakhand          | 784                     | 216                     | 120                     | 880                     | 695                     | 305                     | 54                      | 946                     | 614                     | 386                     | 48                      | 952                     |
| Uttar Pradesh        | 728                     | 272                     | 105                     | 895                     | 669                     | 331                     | 91                      | 909                     | 637                     | 363                     | 89                      | 911                     |
| West Bengal          | 627                     | 373                     | 28                      | 972                     | 563                     | 437                     | 36                      | 964                     | 532                     | 468                     | 24                      | 976                     |
| A & N Islands        | 454                     | 546                     | 26                      | 974                     | 430                     | 570                     | 30                      | 970                     | 383                     | 618                     | 39                      | 961                     |
| Chandigarh           | 70                      | 930                     | 4                       | 996                     | 31                      | 969                     | 22                      | 978                     | 19                      | 981                     | 6                       | 995                     |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli | 483                     | 517                     | 60                      | 940                     | 591                     | 409                     | 38                      | 962                     | 355                     | 646                     | 57                      | 943                     |
| Daman & Diu          | 394                     | 606                     | 176                     | 824                     | 548                     | 452                     | 394                     | 606                     | 92                      | 908                     | 110                     | 890                     |
| Lakshadweep          | 393                     | 607                     | 265                     | 735                     | 452                     | 548                     | 277                     | 723                     | 150                     | 850                     | 364                     | 636                     |
| Pondicherry          | 586                     | 414                     | 87                      | 913                     | 461                     | 539                     | 29                      | 971                     | 317                     | 683                     | 65                      | 935                     |
| all-India            | 727                     | 273                     | 88                      | 912                     | 679                     | 321                     | 75                      | 925                     | 641                     | 359                     | 67                      | 933                     |

Sources:  NSS Report No. 515: Employment and Unemployment Situation in India, 2004-05

NSS Report No. 537: Employment and Unemployment Situation in India, 2009-10

NSS Report No. 554: Employment and Unemployment Situation in India, 2011-12

Notes:   1. Telangana was not a separate State during the NSSO survey period 2004-05, 2009-10 and 2011-12.

2. Total of agriculture and non-agriculture distribution may not tally with 1000 due to rounding off figures.