SERICUL TURE AND THE PROCESS OF CHANGE - Institute for ...

labour. All such labour types provide an assured supply of labour, along
with the family and exchange labour. Skilled labour is another emerging
phenomenon in sericulture, offered on contract basis as well as by casual
labour.
There are also caste and class variations m labour relations.
Engaging a particular labour type reflects the class whereas assuming a
particular labour type reflects the caste variations, both implying the
status values. The larger land-holders generally engage a permanent
contract labour as well as permanent and assured casual labour, ensuring
uninterrupted labour supply. On the other hand, the smaller land-holders
confine to the unattached casual labour. The exchange labour type is
prominent among the landowners of the same caste, especially among
close relatives and among the smaller land-holders!. A majority of the
landless and of the hired labourers are from Scheduled Caste population.
Among the~ most of those who assume the attached labour status
generally have a very low status in their own caste. On the other hand,
those at the top, most of whom also have access to marginal landholding,
tend to assume the unattached labour types, which implies
greater dignity as compared to the former.
Family Dynamics and Gender Relations: This relates to the
second objective of the study. The family dynamics and gender relations
have brought out the internal dynamics of the family as reflected in the
role variations of the family members and their level of involvement in
sericulture. The familial interactions among the family members have
taken a new tum with differential labour involvement and productive
work contribution. The adoption of sericulture among the simple nuclear
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