Unemployment and Underemployment of Permanent Farm Workers

In India, agriculture is predominantly organized in family farms where work is carried on by family labour with the help of hired labour. The hiring of labour is on permanent or casual basis. Thus, there are two criteria for classification of farm labour: (1) family or hired; and (2) permanent or casual. The second classification cuts across the first. Permanent farm workers comprise family farm workers and permanent farm servants (attached workers). A permanent farm worker is the most important part of the farm labour-force. Its proportion to the total farm labour-force varies in different parts of the country. This proportion is highest in the Punjab, because the majority of farms are operated by peasant-proprietors, and there is a general practice of engaging labour on a permanent basis.