Changing the Terms of the Discourse

Extracts from National Commission on Labour (1967)

Employment of Women and Children

Pattern of Women Employment

27.4 Women workers constituted 59.4 millions or 31.5 per cent of the total workers in the country in 1961, according to the Census data. During the last 60 years, their proportion to the total working force has fluctuated between 23.30 per cent and 33.70 per cent (Annexure I).These fluctuations, in the main, are due to differences in the concept of ‘worker’ from Census to Census rather than to actual change in the extent of participation of women in economic activity. The bulk of women workers have all along been engaged in agriculture and allied activities. During the period relevant for our inquiry and for which Census data are available ...