(a) the number of women involved in agriculture sector such as sowing, hoeing, weeding,
watering, harvesting etc.;
(b) the strength of such women workforce during the last three years and the current year;
(c) whether the Government defines such type of labour i.e. self-employment, daily wages,
free wages etc.; and
(d) the contribution of this workforce in national income?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)
(a) to (c): As per Census 2001, the number of agricultural workers in India was 10.67 crores.
Out of this, 4,94 crore (about 46%) were women agriculture workers.
Recognizing the need for providing social security to unorganized workers, including
agriculture labour, the Unorganised Workers` Social Security Act, 2008 has been enacted.
The Act defines `Unorganised Worker` as a home based worker, self-employed worker or a
wage worker in the unorganized sector and includes a worker in the organized sector who
is not covered by any of the Acts mentioned in Scheckile-ll of Act i.e. The Workmen`s
Compensation Act, 1923, The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, The Employees` State Insurance
Act, 1948, The Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952, The Maternity
Benefit Act, 1961 and The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.
As per Economic Survey, 2008-09, the agriculture sector accounts for 16.3% of the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) in 2007-08.