76

CHAPTER IV

OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE

The occupation of an individual refers to his trade or profession

or type of work. The occupational structure of a community is the

product of various socio-spatial and economic factors (Ramotra, 2008).

In this chapter the focus is made on the occupation structure and

economic sources of tribal population of the state of Maharashtra. It is

to understand the nature of work they are pursuing. In case of tribals,

most of their work force is engaged in primary sector, particularly in

agriculture sector. Agriculture sector consists of cultivators and

agriculture labours, which is a part of primary sector where as the

primary sector incorporates cultivators, agriculture labours, workers in

forestry, fishing and allied activities and lastly mining quarrying

activities. Are mostly even today engaged in the primitive primary

activities tribal and hardly a few settled in rural areas perusing

cultivation of crops with bit advance techniques.

1. Primary Sector-1991

It is observed that, the 78.64 per cent tribal workers are pursuing

there work in the agricultural sector and the remaining 21.3656 per

cent in non-agricultural sector. In about 5 districts the percentage in

agriculture was 50 to 70 per cent. Mumbai is the only district in the

state of Maharashtra where 10.68 per cent workers were in the

primary sector, which is lowest in the state; it is but natural because,

being 100 per cent urban. In Satara and Ratnagiri more than 70 per

cent tribal workers were in primary sector. In as many as 12 districts

the proportion was 80 to 90 per cent in the remaining districts. It was

above 90 per cent in Akola, Jalgaon, Ahmadnagar, Yavatmal, Nanded,

Nashik, Parbhani, Buldhana, Gadchiroli and Dhule districts. In about

17 districts the proportion of agricultural workers in primary sector

77

was less than the average and in the remaining 13 districts; their

proportion in primary sector was above the average (87.48%). What

does it indicate? It indicates very explicitly that tribal are in primitive

economy. All the districts in Maharashtra barring greater Mumbai

including suburban Mumbai having more than 50 per cent tribal in the

primary sector only. Being mostly in primary sector indicates their

illiteracy. In Punjab and Haryana, a people are mostly dependent on

agriculture but doing all this with advance techniques and area is plain

and very fertile. Hence, their main economy is agriculture and with

that these states are on the top in terms of their per capita income.

More over the land has been taken by the non-tribals, which is a

common phenomenon that must be stopped. As far as tribal work force

is main the concern, about 83 per cent is engaged in primary sector, but

in about 19 districts out of 30, more than 80 per cent for male

population is much less than the females in the same sector. In tribal

society, females are mostly in primary sector particularly in

agriculture. In about 19 districts more than 90 per cent tribal women

are just in primary sector, this is because of illiteracy and they are

engaged in collecting roots, fruits and food grains left out in the field

after harvesting.

2. Secondary Sector -1991

A negligible proportion of tribal working population is engaged in

secondary sector. In as many as 24 districts their proportion is less

than 10 per cent. In the remaining 6 districts the proportion in

secondary sector is above 10 per cent, Mumbai is having (33.86%).

Mumbai is distantly followed by Nagpur (21.09%), Sindhudurg

(18.35%), Kolhapur (17.57%), Solapur (13.87%), and Satara (10.20%). It

shows two things, very clearly, one is that higher is the share of

workers in industries, and area where the tribal proportion is less in

such areas their working population is diversified, because of the

impact of modernization in terms of education and overall development.

78

The condition of male tribals is comparatively better than the

women folk. More than 70 per cent male tribals are in secondary

sector, mostly in the large urban centers where they are migrated in

search of job and educational opportunities. The districts in which they

are comparatively more are Pune, Thane, Satara, Solapur, Sindhudurg,

Kolhapur, Nagpur and Greater Mumbai. The proportion of male

workers in secondary sector ranges from 2.26 per cent in Buldhana

districts to a maximum of 38.50 per cent in Mumbai.

It is not surprising as far as tribal women are concerned in the

country but it is certainly astonishing that in one of the advanced

states like Maharashtra in India where the proportion of tribal women

are hardly, 3 per cent as the 1991 census. Just in 14 districts, their

proportion was more than 3 per cent but surprisingly more than 10 per

cent in Solapur, Nagpur and Greater Mumbai. This also witnesses that

tribal women are much behind not only in comparison to general

masses but also of their counter parts.

3. Tertiary Sector-1991

The proportion of tribal workers in tertiary sector is 12.39 per

cent, which is comparatively very low. In about 09 districts out of 30,

the proportion of tribal workers in tertiary sector in 1991 was above the

state average (12.39%). In about 11 districts such as Bid, Pune,

Amravati, Kolhapur, Satara, Nagpur, Ratnagiri, Solapur, Sangli,

Sindhudurg and Greater Mumbai where their proportion was above 10

per cent in this sector. The proportion of workers in tertiary sector in

the state of Maharashtra varies from a lowest proportion of 3.60 per

cent in Dhule district to a highest 55.47 per cent in Greater Mumbai.

Greater Mumbai is the only district in the entire state where they can

be considered in the area of modernization.

The male tribal work force in tertiary sector is about 10 per cent

(9.97%) which is 3 times higher than the females in the same sector. At

state level the position in tertiary sector is considerably very poor, this

is because of their illiteracy and therefore they are mostly engaged in

79

unskilled or traditional occupations. It is therefore, concluded that until

unless they are well educated especially with higher education their

sustainable better life condition can not be achieved This can come

through political forces at national and micro levels and with the

understanding and awareness of tribals about themselves regarding

the nature of exploitation and the forces behind this.

80

Table 4.1

MAHARASHTRA – TRIBAL OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE, 1991

Primary sector (%) Secondary sector (%) Tertiary sector (%) Sr.

no. Districts Person Male Female Person Male Female Person Male Female 1 Gr. Mumbai

10.68 11.17 09.04 33.86 38.50 18.56 55.47 50.33 72.4

2 Thane 84.71 79.84 91.31 08.80 11.24 05.48 6.5 8.92 3.21

3 Raigarh 85.10 84.69 84.00 06.13 07.32 04.25 8.77 7.99 11.75

4 Ratnagiri 70.92 79.59 55.05 06.79 05.89 08.42 22.29 14.52 36.52

5 Sindhudurg 54.38 48.99 64.91 18.35 16.85 21.27 27.27 34.16 13.82

6 Nashik 92.99 89.36 97.24 02.54 03.86 00.99 4.47 6.78 1.77

7 Dhule 94.70 92.81 97.08 01.70 02.33 00.90 3.6 4.86 2.02

8 Jalgaon 92.00 87.75 97.43 02.20 03.25 00.87 5.79 9 1.7

9 Ahmednagar 29.50 88.99 97.92 03.37 04.39 00.89 4.17 6.62 1.19

10 Pune 81.34 73.96 92.20 07.65 10.77 03.05 11.02 15.27 4.75

11 Satara 70.48 62.35 85.37 10.20 12.24 06.66 19.31 25.52 7.97

12 Sangli 68.56 60.26 88.08 07.54 09.31 03.37 32.9 30.43 8.55

13 Solapur 63.74 56.41 79.68 13.87 015.3 10.76 22.39 28.29 9.56

14 Kolhapur 64.05 56.37 82.29 17.57 21.51 09.00 18.38 22.45 8.71

15 Aurangabad 88.81 83.65 95.29 03.92 05.30 02.19 7.28 11.06 2.52

16 Jalana 89.85 84.13 96.97 04.01 06.22 01.27 6.14 9.65 1.76

17 Parbhani 93.90 89.57 98.15 02.01 03.06 00.73 4.1 7.37 1.12

81

18 Bid 84.81 78.32 94.14 04.38 05.26 03.13 10.8 16.43 2.73

19 Nanded 92.12 89.25 97.39 01.97 02.71 00.97 5.32 8.04 1.64

20 Osmanabad 88.24 82.33 96.89 02.36 03.51 01.17 9.2 14.16 1.94

21 Latur 87.40 80.71 97.03 03.11 04.48 00.62 9.49 14.52 2.35

22 Buldhana 94.21 90.63 98.51 01.55 02.26 00.69 4.24 7.11 0.79

23 Akola 90.92 84.56 97.38 02.84 04.65 01.02 6.24 10.79 1.6

24 Amaravati 83.05 88.38 96.97 02.08 03.32 00.89 14.87 8.3 2.14

25 Yavatmal 92.67 89.36 97.19 02.29 03.61 00.83 5.05 7.03 1.98

26 Wardha 87.65 82.18 95.46 05.05 07.08 02.37 7.29 10.76 2.17

27 Nagpur 57.93 49.00 74.85 21.09 24.51 14.60 20.98 26.49 10.55

28 Bhandara 84.58 81.10 88.75 09.19 09.38 08.96 6.23 9.52 2.29

29 Chandrapur 85.53 80.45 89.68 06.10 07.66 05.40 8.37 11.89 4.92

30 Gadchiroli 94.28 92.56 96.76 01.89 02.27 01.34 3.83 5.17 1.9

Maharashtra 78.64 76.62 87.77 7.15 8.60 4.69 12.39 14.78 7.54

Source: Census of India-1991

82

MAHARASHTRA – TRIBAL

OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE (%),

1991

78.64

7.15

12.39

Primary sector (%) Secondary sector (%)

Tertiary sector (%)

Fig. 4.1

1. AGRICULTURAL SECTOR -1991

Tribals whether they are in Maharashtra or elsewhere, they are

mainly dependent on primary sector, particularly in agricultural sector.

Land is the source of their lively hood. The land on which they are

depended has also been reduced drastically as the moneylenders and

forest contractors have been exploiting these tribals. The process of

exploitation has not been so far stopped. In this section our concern is

to analyze the distribution of tribal workers in agricultural and

nonagricultural sectors of economy, which can indicate their shift from

traditional sector to the modern nonagricultural sector.

In Maharashtra maximum 76.32% tribal workforce is mainly

dependent on agriculture which incorporates cultivators and

agricultural labourers. In about 15 out of the total 30 districts in the

state having more than 85% workers of this community in agricultural

sector only and in the remaining 50% district less than 85% .What is

important to see here, that there are only 3 districts where their

83

proportion was less than 50%. These districts are Greater Mumbai

(1.15%), Ratnagiri (31.7%) and Sindhudurg (46.36%). It ranged from a

minimum of 1.15% to a maximum of 93.69% in Dhule district. The

proportion of tribals in agriculture is high where their proportion of

tribals is relatively high. In urban areas where some of the tribals

have migrated and working in nonagricultural sector, particularly in

urban areas, in such areas their proportion of population is relatively

very low.

The proportion of tribal male population engaged in agricultural

sector in 1991 was 70.96%, which is relatively less than their female

(85.40%) counter parts. Most of the women are in agricultural sector.

In about 17 districts the proportion of women in this sector is more

than 90%, as women are less exposed to literacy and modernization.

2. AGRICULTURAL SECTOR -2001

The situation in agriculture sector is slightly progressed in the

decade of 2001; the average was more than 68 pre cent (68.67%). It

means that the dependency on agriculture sector was downs by 7.65

percentage points, it shows tribal development. At the same time the

tribal districts like Dhule, Nandurbar, Nashik, Thane, Gadchiroli and

Chandrapur are developing in agriculture sector. The minimum

proportion of tribals are engaged in agriculture sector was 0.75 per cent

in Gr. Mumbai and maximum in Dhule i.e. 91.38 per cent.

The proportion of female population in agriculture sector in this

year was about 77.17 per cent, it more than the male (62.97%)

proportion. The highest proportion was found in male is about 88.88

per cent in Dhule and closely followed by Gadchiroli (87.34%),

Ahmednagar (86.06%). The lowest proportion was in 0.63 per cent in

Mumbai. The females in this sector was highest with 95.82 per cent in

the Parbhani district, which is in Marathawada division where

84

agriculture is the main source of economy of tribals, and very low in

obviously in Mumbai i.e. 1.09 per cent.

3. NON -AGRICULTURAL SECTOR-1991

The proportion of tribal workers in nonagricultural sector was

just about 23.68% in the state as the whole. The minimum proportion

of workers of this tribal community was 6.31% in Dhule district, and

the maximum 98.85% in Mumbai. Both are the extreme conditions in

Mumbai their proportion was 99% in nonagricultural sector. Because of

the fact that Mumbai is 100% urban where there is no scope of

agriculture; that is too for the tribals. There are only 3 districts, for

instant, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri and Greater Mumbai. Where the tribals

are in non agriculture activities are more than 50%, otherwise their

proportion was less than this. It is a very pitiable condition that even in

21st century their condition has not visibly improved for which the

reasonly are many. For the development of such communities it needs

political will. That is the force which can get the welfare programs

implemented especially meant for them. The tribal sub-plans

implemented for tribal development need to be monitored and reviewed

to see that whatever the benefits percolated to these backward

communities in given areas.

The proportion of male workers in non agricultural sector is

comparatively 2 times higher than their women folk (14.60%) in 1991.

In about 11 districts the proportion of the male tribal was less than the

state average (29.04%) and in the remaining, it was more than that of

Nagpur, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, and Greater Mumbai. The proportion

of male workers in non agricultural sector is above 60%. The lowest

proportion was (6.31%) in Dhule, and highest (98.85%) in Greater

Mumbai. But in case of women, the proportion was above 50% in

Ratnagiri and Greater Mumbai only otherwise in 28 districts it was

less than 50%. In about 11 districts, the proportion of females in non-

85

agricultural sector was above the state average (14.60%), and in the

remaining 19 districts it was less than that. It ranged from a minimum

of 2.19% in Parbhani to a maximum of 98.41% in Greater Mumbai. This

also indicated that the proportion of women workers in nonagricultural

sector was high as they have been accompanied their husbands.

Otherwise, the shift of women from agricultural sector to non

agricultural sector was a very low process as compared to their men.

4. NON -AGRICULTURAL SECTOR-2001

In the 2001, the non agriculture sector was 31.33 percent, it a

progressive sign for tribal development. As many as 9 districts are

accounted more than average and remaining less than average of the

state. The maximum non agriculture sector is depicted in the district of

Gr.Mumbai was 99.25 per cent, and minimum in Dhule (8.62%). The

average proportion of male in non agriculture sector was 37.03 per cent;

it is more than the female average (22.83%). The maximum proportion

was noted in female with 98.91 in Mumbai, minimum in 4.18 per cent

in Parbhani and followed by Buldhana (4.65%), Dhule (5.12), and

Gadchiroli (5.28%).

86

Table 4.2

Maharashtra

Percentage of Tribal workers in Agricultural and Non-

agricultural sectors, 1991

Agricultural sector Non-agricultural sector Sr.

no.

District

Persons Male Female Persons Male Female

1 Gr. Mumbai 1.15 1.02 1.59 98.85 98.98 98.41

2 Thane 81.4 75.75 89.07 18.6 24.25 10.93

3 Raigarh 74.65 69.84 79.71 25.35 30.16 20.29

4 Ratnagiri 35.17 28.59 47.22 64.83 71.41 52.78

5 Sindhudurg 46.36 41.24 56.36 53.64 58.76 43.64

6 Nashik 91.83 87.62 96.76 8.17 12.38 3.24

7 Dhule 93.69 91.35 96.66 6.31 8.65 3.34

8 Jalgaon 90.06 84.96 96.56 9.94 15.04 3.44

9 Ahmednagar 90.37 86.27 96.48 9.63 13.73 3.52

10 Pune 78.21 70.23 89.98 21.79 29.77 10.02

11 Satara 62.58 54.77 76.87 37.42 45.23 23.13

12 Sangli 65.89 57.86 84.78 34.11 42.14 15.22

13 Solapur 60.4 52.78 76.98 39.6 47.22 23.02

14 Kolhapur 61.34 53.45 80.06 38.66 46.55 19.94

15 Aurangabad 86.99 81.1 94.42 13.01 18.9 5.58

16 Jalana 88 81.47 96.12 12 18.53 3.88

17 Parbhani 92.64 87.55 97.81 7.36 12.45 2.19

18 Bid 78.88 70.84 90.41 21.12 29.16 9.59

19 Nanded 91.3 87.02 97.17 8.7 12.98 2.83

20 Osmanabad 86.14 79.76 95.49 13.86 20.24 4.51

21 Latur 86.39 79.06 96.96 13.61 20.94 3.04

22 Buldhana 91.93 87.32 97.46 8.07 12.68 2.54

23 Akola 89.67 82.56 96.87 10.33 17.44 3.13

24 Amravati 81.66 86.17 96.34 18.34 13.83 3.66

25 Yavatmal 88.8 86.58 96.59 11.2 13.42 3.41

26 Wardha 85.13 78.64 94.29 14.87 21.36 5.71

27 Nagpur 53.75 43.78 72.61 46.25 56.22 27.39

28 Bhandara 81.26 76.61 86.83 18.74 23.39 13.17

29 Chandrapur 81.02 73.86 87.34 18.98 26.14 12.66

30 Gadchiroli 92.93 90.61 96.28 7.07 9.39 3.72

Maharashtra 76.32 70.96 85.40 23.68 29.04 14.60

Source: Census of India 1991

87

Percentage of Tribal workers in Agricultural

and Non-agricultural sectors, 1991

76.32

23.68

Agricultural sector Non-agricultural sector

Fig.4.2

Percentage of tribal workers in

Agricultural and Non- Agricultural sectors,

2001

68.67

31.33

Agricultural sector Nonagricultural sector

Fig. 4.3

23.68

76.32

88

Table 4.3

Maharashtra

Percentage of tribal workers in Agricultural and Non-

Agricultural sectors, 2001

Agricultural sector Nonagricultural sector Sr.No. Districts

Persons Male Female Persons Male Female

1 Gr. Mumbai 0.75 0.63 1.09 99.25 99.37 98.91

2 Thane 69.51 62.79 79.31 30.49 37.21 20.69

3 Raigarh 55.02 42.96 65.18 44.98 57.04 34.82

4 Ratnagiri 26.6 19.53 45.01 73.4 80.47 54.99

5 Sindhudurg 19.32 13.93 5.15 80.68 86.07 94.85

6 Nashik 88.24 73.74 93.97 11.76 26.26 6.03

7 Dhule 91.38 88.88 94.88 8.62 11.12 5.12

8 Jalgaon 86.88 81.52 94.3 13.12 18.48 5.7

9 Ahmednagar 85.41 86.06 83.66 14.59 13.94 16.34

10 Pune 71.57 62.53 84.07 28.43 37.47 15.93

11 Satara 41.35 39.77 60.33 58.65 60.23 39.67

12 Sangli 60.24 51.57 53.33 39.76 48.43 46.67

13 Solapur 54.96 48.09 68.98 45.04 51.91 31.02

14 Kolhapur 51.77 44.62 67.6 48.23 55.38 32.4

15 Aurangabad 78.86 73.09 86.67 21.14 26.91 13.33

16 Jalana 77.14 69.96 88.17 22.86 30.04 11.83

17 Parbhani 88.95 83.43 95.82 11.05 16.57 4.18

18 Bid 78.75 58.1 85.65 21.25 41.9 14.35

19 Nanded 85.51 81 92.21 14.49 19 7.79

20 Osmanabad 78.2 70.63 90.23 21.8 29.37 9.77

21 Latur 56.92 69.63 89.13 43.08 30.37 10.87

22 Buldhana 89.94 85.48 95.35 10.06 14.52 4.65

23 Akola 87.14 81.9 94.48 12.86 18.1 5.52

24 Amravati 86.39 82.67 92.15 13.61 17.33 7.85

25 Yavatmal 87.5 82.98 93.73 12.5 17.02 6.27

26 Wardha 77.53 71.81 87.94 22.47 28.19 12.06

27 Nagpur 45.84 37.52 65.44 54.16 62.48 34.56

28 Bhandara 73.57 69.42 80.44 26.43 30.58 19.56

29 Chandrapur 74.57 67.65 86.17 25.43 32.35 13.83

30 Gadchiroli 90.34 87.34 94.72 9.66 12.66 5.28

Maharashtra 68.67 62.97 77.17 31.33 37.03 22.83

Source: Census of India 2001

89

OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURAL AT VILLAGE LEVEL (2006-

2010)

The area undertaken for the present study comprises Thane,

Nashik, and Nandurbar districts where 37.93 per cent of the total

tribal population in the state of Maharashtra has been concentrated.

This analysis is based on the primary data generated by conducting

intensive field surveys in about 14 villages in the study area during

2006-10 so as to bring out the hidden ground realities of tribals. It

could help to look into their economic status to through the occupation,

which they do. It helps to see that how these tribals suffering from

malnutrition, which is very much related with their economy. In this

section we are focusing on the occupational structure of the tribals’

particularly in agricultural sector comprising cultivators and

agricultural labourers and in non-agricultural sector in 14 sample

villages.

CULTIVATORS

As mention above, the agricultural sector comprises of cultivators

and agricultural labourers. It is assumed that most of the tribals

pursue cultivation of crops being very much dependent on land. If they

have forest area in and around their settlement, they also collect the

forest produce like roots and fruits for their survival in which not only

the head of the household, infact all the members of the family pursue

these activities together. They are also holding some land in such areas

where their proportion as cultivators is generally high and where they

have dispossessed the landed economy, have been entailed to work as

agricultural labourers or some other work as agricultural labourers or

other work for their survival that does not provide suffice food and

nutrition for their well-being. It is evidenced from the Table 4.4 that an

on average of 14 sample villages of the study area the proportion of

90

tribes doing cultivation constituted 38.40 per cent during 2006-10. It is

further found that the proportion of tribal cultivators varied from a

minimum of 21.38 per cent in Kakarpada village in Akkalkuwa tahsil

of Nandurbar district to the highest 69.44 per cent in village Bhatode of

Dindori tahsil of Nashik district.

The villages like Kakarpada (15.21%),Itwai (16.35%),Pohara

(21.37%) in Akkalkuwa tahsil of Nandurbar district, Nyahale (22.37%),

Karamba (24.39%) in Jawhar tahsil of Thane district, the proportion of

cultivators was more than 15 to less 30 per cent. Borvan (32.69%) and

Phopsi (35.34%) in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district and Kankala

(36.34%) in Akkalkuwa tahsil of Nandurbar district fall in between 30

to 40 per cent. Kakarpada, Itwai, Pohara, Nyahale and Karamba

villages with very low proportion of cultivators (below 25%) as the land,

whatever is arable is not under irrigation, barring some pockets

otherwise, mostly dependent on rainfall, which is between 2200 mm

and 2500 mm. The proportion of male cultivators is relatively higher

than the females in these villages. Borvan is located at the foot of hills

and it is mostly isolated and most backward village, we have identified

in terms of their well-being and economy that lacks necessary

infrastructure, transportation and communication. Another villages

Phopsi in Dindori tahsil and Kankala in Akkalkuwa tahsil where more

than 30 per cent tribals were as cultivators which is comparatively

better than the other five villages in the category of less than 40 per

cent, but at the same time the proportion of male cultivators in Phopsi

was about 46 per cent and for females was about 26 per cent. It means

that to some extent land is under cultivation but not much irrigated

and the rainfall is between 1000 and 2000 mm. All these three villages

more or less are mostly dependent on rainfall and therefore proportion

of cultivators is comparatively less.

In the category of 40 to 60 per cent cultivators, there were four

villages for instance, Bhanwad (44.44%) in Dindori tahsil of Nashik

91

district, Ghatkarpada (44.74%), Koch (56.90%) in Mokhada tahsil of

Thane district, and Sulyachpada (54.55%) in Jawhar tahsil of Thane

district. These four villages are located in the western and north-

western and parts of their district, where the rainfall is comparatively

high (above 1000 mm). The nearby reserve forest area is also the

reason of high rainfall in this area. The main crops grown are paddy,

groundnut, Bajara, cotton, etc. The climate as a whole in the districts is

dry and the temperature ranges between 160 and 410 and the annual

rainfall is about 674 mm. It means that the rainfall is above the

districts average. The Bardi village located at the foot of the hill- the

Sapura ranges, which are almost isolated one and most of the people

work as cultivators and more than one third of them working as

agricultural labourers. The overall condition of the village tribal people

was poverty stricken. Economically backward, there is no provision of

electricity, roads, transport, tap water, communication, etc. in this

village. Ghatkarpada is having relatively barren land and the crops

grown there, are mostly Jowar, Bajara, Udad, Tur, etc.

There are two villages like Chandikapur (63.27%) and Bhatode

(69.44%) in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district, where the proportion of

cultivators was very high, which ranged from more than 62 to less than

70 per cent. The village Chandikapur in Dindori tahsil is comparatively

better because of grape-vine cultivation where they get work as

agricultural labourers, apart from their own cultivation work. Bhatode

is also comparatively better having near about 70 per cent workers in

cultivation due to irrigation provision.

Table 4.4 further reveals that the proportion of male (42.55%) as

well as female (34.26%) cultivators having little difference. It shows

that other than agriculture, they do not do other work to earn their

livelihood , therefore the difference in this sector of economy is not

much, as they work on the land whatever the possess.

92

AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS

As the tribals loosing their land ownership to the non-tribals

their proportion as agricultural labourers has been augmenting and

cultivators on the declining trend. It is evidenced from the fact that

even at the village level in the area under study, the average proportion

of agricultural labourers as per field work was 42.34 per cent. It is

important to note that the proportion of female agricultural labourers

was higher than their male population, and males to some extent are

capable to move to the cities or nearby villages to have opportunity to

work in non-agricultural sector but females are bound to their family

and household and landed property where they work along with their

male members and alone also.

The minimum proportion of tribal agricultural labourers was

found in Kankala (9.13%) in Akkalkuwa tahsil of Nandurbar district

and the maximum (75.61%) was in Karamba village in Jawhar tahsil of

Thane district. In as many as 5 sample villages out of 14 in the study

area, it was found that the percentage of tribal agricultural labourers

was less than 30 per cent. As many as five sample villages i.e. Kankala

(9.13%), Pohara (15.72%), Itwai (27.88%) are in Akkalkuwa tahsil of

Nandurbar district, the villages of Bhatode (25.00%) and Chandikapur

(36.73%) are in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district. Most of all these

villages where the proportion of agricultural labourers was less,

cultivators were more. When we go deep into the tribal remote areas

tribals cultivate their own land whether it is economically viable or not

and hardly few of them go for the work as agricultural labourers in the

nearby villages. It is further noted that in 06 sample villages the

proportion of agricultural labourers ranged between more than 40 per

cent and less than 60 per cent, these are Sulyachpada (45.45%) in

Jawhar tahsil, Ghatkarpada (50.00%), Koch (41.38%) in Mokhada

tahsil of Thane district, and Chandikapur (36.73%), Bhanwad (50.00%)

and Borvan (57.69%) in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district.

93

Nashik and Thane districts are well developed district in the

state, in connection with industrially and agriculturally, wherever the

commercial crops are being cultivated there is a large demand of

agricultural labourers and in such areas tribals are working as

agricultural labourers because of grape-vine, onion, chilly cultivation

and processing, and sugarcane cultivation, as these crops provide net

cash to the land lords. During the harvesting, the demand for

agricultural labourers is generally high, and tribals can get

employment easily. It is also investigated that during the off seasons,

tribals barrow money from the landlords and labour contractors, who

contact these tribals well in advance and made agreement between

them to offer some amount and tribal can meet their basic needs or for

some marriage ,and many other family ceremony purposes. But the

thing is that, they are unable to return this amount and they return by

working on their field as daily agricultural labourers. This kind of

exploitation is very common in tribal areas. It is also found that the

advance amount is given to the tribal by the particular labour

contractors and landlords to fix them in advance to work as labourers

next year for harvesting the crops.

There are hardly three villages out of 14 sample villages where

the daily wage labour workers were about 60% to 76%. These are at

Phopsi (60.15%) in Dindori tahsil of Nashik district, Nyahale (68.42%)

and Karamba (75.61%) in Jawhar tahsil of Thane district. In these

three villages the proportion of cultivators is very low as there is no

land of tribals to earn adequate livelihood out of their small holdings

and they are having no way or choice other than to work on the land,

which belongs to others and earn their lively hood not only the male

members but females also go for this kind of work to supplement

income to the household. This is what I have seen that the living

condition of the tribals in all the villages of the three districts i.e.

Thane, Nashik, and Nandurbar. Their economic condition can be

94

improved through education, in their own or nearby villages where they

can walk down within a distance of 3 km and should be made a

provision of land possession with the tribals, more over their

exploitation by the out siders needs to be put an end and is only

possible when they are well educated and their living condition is

improved.

AGRICULTURAL SECTOR (2006-10)

It is understood that tribals are still living in far off and remote

areas barring a few of them who have migrated to other places in

search of better opportunities. They are mostly dependent on land, may

be as cultivators or agricultural labourers. In the 14 sample villages,

were mostly dominated by tribal population and surrounded adverse

geographical condition. In the 11 villages out of 14, the proportion of

tribals in agricultural sector was more than 90 per cent. And only in

three villages, for instance, Chandikapur, Karamba and Sulyachpada

(Table 4.4) are such where the 100 per cent tribals are engaged in

agricultural sector. It proves with evidences that tribals mainly stay is

on agricultural sector only. The question here arises, that how they can

be protected from exploitation of dispossession of landed property and

how their standard of living can be improved. The fact is that more

than 40 per cent tribals in the tribal villages are landless as per field

survey (2006-10). On an average more than 25 per cent tribals

possessing much less than one hectare (ha) of land. It means that 65

per cent tribals are absolutely landless and in that remaining tribals

whatever the land they have is not that much suffice to meet their both

the ends as the land is mostly un-irrigated . Therefore, for their

survival, they both men and women work as daily wage labourers and

the daily wages paid to them are also much less than the government

rates. Tribal women get much less than their men folk. This is what

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actually situation with the tribals in their own areas, which needs to be

addressed very systematically, carefully and sincerely.

NON-AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

Since more than 90 per cent tribals and in some cases 100 per

cent, pursuing their activities in agricultural sector, have shifted from

shifting cultivation since long. It vindicates that a very insignificant

proportion of tribal community has been working as peons or clerks

who have attained some education from Ashramshalas or from the

nearby colleges. It is also to note that 0.16 per cent tribal women were

recruited as peons in Ashramshalas in Bhanwad village in Dindori

tahsil of Nashik district. On an average, in all these 14 villages the

overall proportion of tribals as peons in non-agricultural sector was

about as low as 0.08 per cent. This non-agricultural sector especially as

clerk and peons is dominated by the male tribals and rarely the tribal

women.

It is further investigated that on an average 2.15 per cent tribals

were also working as tailors in the villages and some of them working

in some private factories to earn their livelihood. The proportion of

male workers (2.62%) in the study area as per our survey was much

higher than the female tribal (0.96%). The highest proportion of male

workers are observe in non- agricultural sector in village Nyahale

(10.71%) in Jawhar tahsil of Thane district, and closely followed by

Pohara (7.50%), Ghatkarpada (6.67% ), and Borvan ( 6.25% ). In only

two villages the proportion was less than 2 per cent to more than 3 per

cent. It is further noted that only one village Phopsi (9.23% ), where the

tribal women’s proportion was relation high in this sector, they were

working in non-agricultural sector particularly preparing meals in

Ashramshalas and also doing the job of sorting of drying grapes in the

grape-vine yards. It is concluded that most of the tribal males are in

the non-agriculture sector although their proportion was insignificant

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but relatively higher than the tribal females. It reflects the disparity in

the attainment of literacy and education, which opens the doors for the

entry in to the non-agricultural sector as a whole. One can say that

tribals are predominantly pursuing their activities mainly in

agricultural sector and insignificant proportion in the non-agricultural

sector.

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Table 4.4

Occupational Structure of Tribal Population in Sample Village, 2006-10

Cultivators Agricultural

Labourers Forest Labourers Sr.

No

Name of

Village Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female

1 Chandikapur 63.27 66.67 60.00 36.73 33.33 40.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

2 Bhanwad 44.44 63.64 26.09 50.00 36.36 63.04 0.00 0.00 0.00

3 Bhatode 69.44 61.54 90.00 25.00 30.77 10.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

4 Borvan 32.69 34.38 30.00 57.69 59.38 55.00 3.85 0.00 10.00

5 Phopsi 35.34 45.59 24.62 60.15 54.41 66.15 0.00 0.00 0.00

6 Koch 56.90 57.14 56.52 41.38 42.86 39.13 0.00 0.00 0.00

7 Ghatkarpada 44.74 43.33 50.00 50.00 50.00 50.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

8 Nyahale 22.37 25.00 15.00 68.42 62.50 85.00 1.32 1.79 0.00

9 Karamba 24.39 27.27 21.05 75.61 72.73 78.95 0.00 0.00 0.00

10 Sulyachpada 54.55 57.14 40.00 45.45 42.86 60.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

11 Kankala 56.60 56.92 52.74 40.14 42.00 38.96 0.00 0.00 0.00

12 Itwai 45.40 42.30 51.45 49.92 48.91 49.47 0.00 0.00 0.00

13 Pohara 21.38 27.50 15.18 67.24 59.51 80.11 0.00 0.00 0.00

14 Kakarpada 25.38 28.81 22.91 68.67 67.95 70.12 0.00 0.00 0.00

Average 42.64 45.52 39.68 53.82 51.56 57.38 0.37 0.13 0.71

CONTD. TABLE

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Teachers Clerk Peon Other Work Participation Rate Sr.

No

Name of

Village Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female

1 Chandikapur 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 43.64 44.64 44.14

2 Bhanwad 3.33 0.00 6.52 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.11 0.00 2.17 1.11 0.00 2.17 25.88 26.14 26.01

3 Bhatode 2.78 3.85 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.78 3.85 0.00 38.24 15.87 27.48

4 Borvan 1.92 0.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.85 6.25 0.00 39.02 25.97 32.70

5 Phopsi 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.51 0.00 9.23 31.34 33.68 32.44

6 Koch 1.72 0.00 4.35 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 36.46 24.73 30.69

7 Ghatkarpada 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.26 6.67 0.00 44.78 17.39 33.63

8 Nyahale 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 7.89 10.71 0.00 43.75 16.81 30.77

9 Karamba 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 39.29 30.65 34.75

10 Sulyachpada 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 41.18 07.14 23.91

11 Kankala 1.01 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.87 1.65 1.98 47.72 67.71 26.73

12 Itwai 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 44.23 65.38 23.08

13 Pohara 0.63 1.25 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.77 7.50 0.00 41.51 57.50 23.31

14 Kakarpada 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 44.78 44.63 44.95

Average 0.81 0.36 1.14 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.00 0.16 2.15 2.62 0.96 40.13 34.16 31.04

Source: Field survey-2006-10

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CONCLUSION

It is concluded that tribals are basically dependent on

agriculture about 85 (84.77%) per cent in 1991 and 92.26 per cent

female tribals work as agricultural labourers besides their household

chores. The proportion of tribals in agricultural sector has decline from

92.03% to 83.81% during 1991-2001 in the area under case study i.e. in

north- western part of Maharashtra. This stands true for male and

females also but sharp declined in case of male tribals who are more

than non-tribal females. In urban centers or near urban centers, the

proportion of tribals is relatively high. Higher the concentration of

tribal population higher is the proportion of cultivators and larger the

magnitude of remoteness. Higher the concentration of tribals and lesser

is the modernization and proportion of agricultural labours. In primary

sector, the proportion of tribals is generally higher than the non-tribals

but the tribal females’ proportion higher than their men folk.

In secondary sector, tribals are insignificant (5.40% - 1991) in

Maharashtra, due to their illiteracy and backwardness. In tertiary

sector (7.13% - 1991) their proportion was slightly higher than in the

secondary sector and highest proportion was in Thane tahsil of Thane

district. The proportion of tribal cultivators has declined by 4.39 per

cent (from 84.77% to 80.38%) during 1991-01. Tribal labours force is

highly concentrated in the eastern part of the study area as commercial

crops are being grown here. It is suggested that government should

make a policy that each tribal household should be provided suffice

land with ownership and neither should it be sold to any one nor to be

transferred.

It is found in sample villages with evidences that predominantly

tribals are in agricultural sector (84.77%) and majority of them pursue

cultivation and quite a substantial proportion (53.82) work as wage

labourers on the land that belongs to others. Due to Ashramshalas

some of them have got the opportunity to work as teachers (2.15%),

100

clerks (0.13%), peons (0.25%) and other (0.09%). Higher the proportion

of cultivators lower is the agricultural labourers and vice versa. High

proportion of wage labourers pertains to commercialization of crops.

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REFERENCES

1. Bhardwaj, S.M. and Harvey, M.E. (1975): Occupational

Structure of the Scheduled Castes and General Population in

Punjab - A Comparative Multivariate Analysis”, The National

Geographical Journal of India, Vol. XXI, Pt.2, (June), pp.75-97.

2. Ramotra, K.C. (2008): Development Process and the Scheduled

Castes, Rawat Publications, Jaipur.

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