Socio-economic status of agricultural labor in Punjab

The present study has been designed to investigate the socio-economic status of agricultural labor in Punjab. The primary data was collected from 270 agricultural labourers in three different agro-climatic zones of the state. Young agricultural labourers are more in demand for farm related activities. There was existence of child labor especially under permanent local labor or in transplanting of paddy. About 10% of the sampled labourers were under the age of 15 years. Significant number of aged agricultural laboures were also working on farms. Most of the agricultural labourers were school dropouts. Government schools were the only source of education for most of the respondents due to their weak financial situation. It was observed that few of the workers were living in Punjab and even holds the domicile status of state, but, there place of birth was not in Punjab. Study observed that there was a direct relation between following a certain religion and being an agricultural labourer. It was observed that 10% of the agricultural labourers in Punjab were either widower or window and it disturbed the social structure very badly.