(a) : whether a vast majority of women continued to be engaged in the agricultural operations and the proportion of the women in agricultural operations has grown in the last few years; and
(b) : if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor and the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI KRISHNA TIRATH)
(a) and (b) : Yes, Madam. The number of women engaged in agricultural operations increased
from 7.58 Crores in 1991 Census to 9.66 Crores in 2001 Census, whereas the participation of
men in agricultural operation remained stagnant at 14.15 Crores and 14.93 Crores respectively
during the same period.
Increase of women in agricultural operations can be attributed to improved netting of data on
working women, inclusion of persons engaged in cultivation and growing of crops for domestic
consumption, persons engaged in rearing of animal for production of milk for their own use in
the category of workers, men preferring to seek alternate employment in household industries
and non-farm activities and migration of men to urban areas in search of remunerative
employment.