An Economic Analysis of Consumption Pattern and Livelihood Security of Casual Labour in Udaipur District of Rajasthan

Abstract

newline The present investigation was carried out study the consumption and livelihood security of casual labour, with a special focus on dietary pattern of consumption, expenditure elasticity, determinants of food consumption and security of livelihood, the status and functioning of the labour market, and the constraints faced by casual labour in Udaipur district of Rajasthan. This study is based on primary data collected from 320 samples of casual labour households comprising 160 urban and 160 rural casual laboour households for the year 2019- newline20. The tabular analysis and functional analysis were used to analyse the data in order to achieve the objectives of the study. newlineThe results of the study show that the average income earned by casual labour was ranging from and#8377;8100 in rural casual labour to and#8377;11931 in urban casual labour. Cereals was the main part of their diet. Casual labour was deficient in cereals, pulses, milk and milk products, oil and fats, sugar and surplus in leafy vegetables. Overall monthly household expenditure on food items was and#8377;2331 in rural households and and#8377;2526 in urban households. newlineMonthly average expenditure on non-food items was higher in urban (and#8377;3355) compared to rural households (and#8377;2933). Cereals in food items and clothing and footwear in non-food items were the main contributor to consumption. Expenditure elasticity was the lowest in cereals (0.632) and the highest in vegetables (1.183). Cereals, sugar, salt and spices in food items have been identified as necessary and pulses, edible oil, eggs, milk and milk products, meat, vegetables and fruits have been identified as luxury for casual labour. As far as non-food items are concerned, electricity, medical, travel, and fuel expenses have been identified as necessary while intoxicants, clothing and footwear, education, personal care, durable goods, and social function expenditure have been considered luxury for casual labour households. newlineThe income, household asset value, education, family size, skill level of casual labour, and savings h