• UGI USER
  • Jan 24, 2024
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EXPLORING GENDER AND CASTE DYNAMICS IN INDIAN LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION

Why in the News?

  • In the past two decades, there’s a notable decrease in female LFP in India.
  • Structural rigidities in key sectors limit opportunities, pushing women towards agriculture or informal roles.
  • Gender bias and caste discrimination compound challenges, positioning women, particularly from lower castes, at the labour force’s bottom.
Source: Zverynolapes

Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) Data Analysis:

  • Higher participation noticed in lower-caste and economically disadvantaged female-headed households.
  • The informal sector, with fewer patriarchal constraints, attracts women, particularly in female-headed households.
  • Lower-caste women’s workforce involvement stems from historical expectations, while education influences job access.
About SECC

·    SECC, first conducted since 1931, surveys every Indian family in rural and urban areas.

·    In 2011 SECC was conducted by Ministry of Rural Development.

·    Gathers economic status to define indicators of deprivation for authorities.

·    Collects specific caste names to assess economic conditions of caste groups.

·    Aims to map inequalities at a broader level.

 

Comparison to census : SECC differs from Census as it identifies beneficiaries for state support openly, while Census data is confidential under the Census Act of 1948.