Research Abstracts on Child Labour Women Labour - Nipccd

Unorganised Sector/ Labour
rural and 7% in urban areas. About 19% of the households did not avail of public health
facility, as either the treatment was not available, or the facility was too far. The
Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS) 1975 provided supplementary food
to children (0-6 years), pregnant and lactating mothers. The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is also
being implemented in some states. According to National Sample Survey (1999-2000), 42%
male and 33% female workers in urban areas were engaged in regular salaried jobs. Casual
workers were the most insecure and vulnerable sections of the workforce. State efforts at
upgrading skills of workers have been limited. One of the major problems of central
welfare funds is the identification of correct beneficiaries. Also, needy categories like
agricultural labourers, forest workers, etc. are left out of the ambit of welfare schemes. A
number of private market and NGO initiatives for social protection have been identified and
these need to be strengthened.
Unni, Jeemol and Uma Rani. (2001).
Insecurities of informal workers in Gujarat, India. Ahmedabad : Gujarat Institute
of Development <strong>Research</strong>. 85 p.
Key Words : 1.LABOUR 2.UNORGANISED LABOUR 3.INFORMAL WORKERS 4.UNORGANISED
SECTOR 5.FOOD SECURITY 6.SOCIAL SECURITY 7.GUJARAT
Abstract : The People’s Security Survey was intended to help the construction of indices
of socio-economic security. Generic questionnaire was developed by International Labour
Organisation (ILO). About 44% male and 51% female headed households reported crisis due
to social expenditure. 39% households reported crop failure as a major crisis. Maximum
crisis was reported due to large debts incurred by 58.2% males and 63.1% females. About
16% households borrowed large debts from formal financial institutions. Vulnerable groups
were those who approached money lenders (11%), and worst off were those who had to sell a
part of their assets (3%) to tide over the crisis. The average income was lower of women
workers (US $ 254) as compared to income of men (US $ 348). Across the status category,
more piece rate workers and less salaried workers perceived themselves to be poor. Major
insecurity faced by workers in the labour market was irregularity of work. Casual (44%) and
piece rate workers (25%) were more insecure compared to all workers (24%). Work
insecurity was less among salaried workers, only 4% did not get paid holidays, 14% did not
get medical leave, and 31% did not get medical care, while 96% casual workers did not
receive any of these entitlements. About 10% households of women respondents went
hungry over the last twelve months, compared to 7.6% among male respondents. Food
deprivation was relatively high in urban areas (14%) especially among women workers (18%).
Across status category, higher proportion of piece rate home based (20%), self employed
non agricultural (14%) and casual workers (13%) went hungry over the last 12 months.
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<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Abstracts</strong> on Child Labour, Labour and Women Labour 1998 - 2009