Female workers in Punjab a geographical study

Abstract

Participation of females in economic activities is vital for economic and social development of the world and for creating just society for all. But females have always lagged behind the males in terms of work participation all over the world. In the populous country of India, it is very important to properly utilize the huge female workforce and empower them economically as it would transmit the benefits of development to the grassroot levels. Punjab, the state with one of the lowest female work participation rates in India, needs special attention in the light of recent decline in female work participation rate. The present study intends to examine the trends in and patterns of female work participation rate in Punjab; to analyse the distribution of female workers in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors; and to analyse the dynamics of female work participation. It was found that areas with high female work participation rate were characterised by high levels of urbanization and industrialization. Further, most parts of Malwa region had larger share of female workers in primary activities while Majha and Doaba regions had more female workers in tertiary sector. While the growth of female workers as cultivators, agricultural labourers, in livestock rearing, household industry and trade declined during the last decade, the largest share was engaged as other workers in which most of them were working in education sector. Income of female workers was found to be vital for the survival of their households. Age, residence, education, marital status, family structure, number of children and family income were found to be important factors in determining the female work participation. newline