(a) the ratio of working labourers in the agriculture sector against the total work force and population of the country and the measures being taken to reduce this ratio;
(b) whether there has been a decline in the employment opportunities owing to the decline in production in the agriculture sector; and
(c) if so, the number of labourers likely to be rendered jobless in the wake of this decline?
MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT(SHRI K. CHANDRASEKHAR RAO)
(a): As per the Employment and unemployment survey conducted by National Sample Survey Organisation during 1999-2000, ratio of the casual labourers in agriculture to the total work force and total population of the country was estimated at around 25.0% and 10.0% respectively. Since agriculture sector is already employing excess labour, Government`s strategy is to provide policy interventions for diverting the excess labour force to other sectors.
(b) & (c): The level of employment in agriculture remained more or less same, though there was around 3.1% growth per annum in agriculture during 1994-2000.