Rural women overtake their urban counterparts in participation of labour force during 2017-2021
Ravi S Singh
New Delhi, July 25
In a manifestation of growing advancement of the demography of rural-India, women from rural areas have overtaken their urban counterparts in participation of the country’s labour force during the period from 2017-2021.
In effect, the development demonstrates the Modi government’s policy thrust to abridge the rural-urban divide, buff up the rural economy and consequently check-mate migration and overcrowding of urban centres.
A data prepared by the Union Labour Ministry, which was shared with the Rajya Sabha this week, says that the female labour force participation rate (in percentage) of rural women was 24.6; in 2018-19, it was 26.4; in 2019-20, it was 33; and in 2020-21, it was 36.5.
In comparison, the urban figure was 20.4 in 2017-18, 20.4 in 2018-19, 23.3 in 2019-20, and 23.2 in 2020-21.
A key derivative of the data is that during the covid-affected year of 2020-21, the participation of women in both the rural and the urban spectrum were on the increase.
The consolidated figure of all-India female labour force participation rate (in percentage) during the corresponding years of 2017-18 to 2020-211 was 23.3, 24.5, 30, and 32.5, respectively.
The data further says that while the female Workers Population Ratio (in percentage) at all-India level during the corresponding four periods was 22, 23.3, 28.7 and 31.4; the female nemployment Rate (in percentage) was 5.6, 5.1, 4.2, and 3.5, respectively.
The study indicates that female worker population has increased during 2017-18 to 2020-21. Also, female unemployment rate has declined for the same period.
In this context, the Union government has taken various steps to improve women’s participation in the labour force and quality of their employment, including legally providing for enhancement in paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.
Also, there is mandatory provision for creche facility in the establishments having 50 or more employees, permitting women workers in the night shifts with adequate safety measures, etc.
