WOMEN EMPOWERMENT VIS-À-VIS FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE

‘’Women  perform 66% of  world’s work, produce 50% of the food  yet earns  10% of the income and own 1% of the property. Whether the issue is improving education in developing world or fighting global climate change or addressing nearly any other challenge we face, empowering women is critical part of the equation.’’ 

                                                                              Former President, Bill Clinton September 2009

‘’In many countries of the world, women are forced to wear burquas and hijabs. They are treated as sub-humans. Men are still their masters. Half of the population is female and oppressed. Their problems must be solved socially and politically. Sweden ranks as one of the world’s most gender-egalitarian countries based on firm belief that men and women should share power equally. Sweden has a feminist party. India also needs a feminist party much more than Sweden.’’                                                                                                        Tasleema Nasreen

INTRODUCTION

Women empowerment is required for hardship reduction, gender equality and capacity building. Most of the women have no source of livelihood, traditionally do not have any decision making power, bearing multiple responsibilities without any recognition and suffer from deprivation and neglect.  The economic empowerment of women is pre-requisite for sustainable development, pro-poor growth, gender equality.  Empowered women are catalyst for multiplying development efforts. Women usually invest higher proportion of their earnings on their families and communities than men. Increasing the role of women in the economy is a part of the solution to the financial and economic crises and critical for economic growth. Higher financial growth of female translates into greater investment in children education, health, nutrition which will lead to economic growth in the long run. To promote women’s income generating activities from survival level into strong and viable business, women need access to the full range of credit, banking and financial facilities. Social and political factors have a significant influence on women’s financial independence. These include access to family planning, health care services, completion of post primary education, improving literacy rate of adult women and increasing women’s participation in governance structure and political decision - making. Cultural barriers and discriminatory practices and attitudes need to be properly tackled. More equitable access to assets and services- land, water, technology, innovation, credit and financial services will strengthen women’ s right.

Discussion

Women’s financial independence is prerequisite for sustainable development. Women experience barriers in almost every aspect of work. Employment opportunities need to be improved. Women perform bulk of unpaid care work. This is an arena for greater attention by development actors through increased recognition. Innovative approaches and partnership are needed to scale up women’s financial independence .Financial independence increases women’s access to economic resources and opportunities including job, financial services, property and other productive assets, skill development and market information. Women’s economic participation and empowerment are fundamental for strengthening women’s right and enabling women to have control over their lives and exert influence in the society.

One study reports that in India, GDP could rise by 8% if  the female/male ratio of workers increases by 10%. Agricultural input could increase to a large extent if women’s access to agricultural inputs is equal to men. About 48.5% of India’s population is female. India has seen a steady growth of women in its workforce, yet gender inequality in pay, post, promotional opportunities   are non- existent. Serious salary gaps between men and women working on same jobs, lack of career advancement opportunities for most of women workers and overall mentality of keeping women away from decision making authority are too common in both private and public sector.

There is severe higher education gap in India. Only 1% of total women have university education. Women account for 1/3 of students at college level due to poverty, social and parental preference, inadequate school facilities, shortage of female teachers, and gender bias in the curriculum.

Most women work in the informal sector. In1991 only 23% of total workers were women. According to CESO perspective women comprise 43% of the global agricultural labour force. 58% of all unpaid works are done by women. Women work more than men 12 to 13 hours per week. Up to 45 % of the poorest women have no say in the decision about how their own income is spent. 38% all registered small business worldwide are owned by women. Globally only 17 % elected officials in national parliament and ministry. According to 4^th edition of Delloite Report In 2010, only 7 of 150 elected heads of state in the world were women and 11 of 192 heads of the government o 4According t^th edition Delloite report on Women in Boardroom: A Global Perspective

The representation of women on Corporate Boards continues to increase but the number of   women leading Board is still low globally. Overall, women now hold 12%seats worldwide with only 4% chairing the Boards.

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Barriers to women employment are purdah -system, caste -system, discrimination at work place, lack of employment opportunities.

Women lead different economic lives -

As farmers-    Gender division of labour in rural households force women farmers to grow food crops where men grow cash crops.

As entrepreneur- Women are less productive because they cannot take risks.

As income earners – Women are less earners because they can specialize only certain type of jobs.

As holders of assets – They are less likely to be the formal owner of land or property.

As consumers- they are indecisive because it is man who controls the cash within a household.

A woman may have powered India to glory but in the eyes of law she is not good enough to take charge of her children of their fathers or husbands and be equal in every respect. There is no gender equality in law. According to Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, the father is considered the natural guardian of the child. The women only get custody of an offspring under 5 years of age but without natural guardian  status. The father precedes the mother as a natural guardian of the child. This is not just unfair , but also reinforce orthodox gender stereotypes. In the eyes of archaic patriarchal laws , women are still treated as adjunct to men and as unequal second class citizen. It is time for women to derive their identity independent.

Women may have been the matriarch of a large family but on their PAN application she never existed. If anyone has ever studied the form for PAN card or any other official document everyone has noticed one thing they all require the women to provide their father’s name. There is no choice of giving other’s name at all WHY? IS THE FATHER ONLY PARENT OF RELEVANCE? In the eyes of some archaic patriarchal law, women are still treated as unequal second class citizens. It is time for women to derive their identity independent of their fathers, husbands and be equal in every respect.

Women’s traditional reproductive role may restrict them from seizing new opportunities created by Globalization. When women do take up new opportunities they may have to experience tension between their productive and reproductive roles.

Political and economic aspects of globalization affected the rural economy in the following way

More general trends affecting rural women’s livelihoods are the changing nature of specialization brought about by globalization entails that certain economic activities become more attractive and others less so, the effects of these changes on rural women are mediated by gender ethnicity, race and class. Majority of women in rural areas of developing countries are unpaid workers on small land holdings, in animal husbandry and in non-farm enterprises. Contrary to popular perception, rural women are not just involved in the subsistence and non-monetised sector of the economy; they contribute to subsistence as well as to market-oriented production. Yet their diverse roles and contributions often go unrecognized and unmeasured.

Bringing women into the mainstream of the development is a major concern of the government of India. Therefore, year 2001 was declared as’ The Year of Women Empowerment’. Indian Constitution in its Fundamental Rights has provision for equality, social justice and protection of women .These goals are yet to be realized.

In India according to Census 2001, the female labour force participation rated in their population is 25.7%. It is also estimated that invisible housewives’ contribute 1/3 of India’s GNP. Government has launched many Programmes like

 Sabala – To help girls of 10-19 years to become self-reliant through vocational training.

Swa shakti-for  socio-economic development n empowerment of women through SHGs.

Swayam Siddha—Through formation of SHG

Swawlamban- Women training programme for self-employment.

Swadhar – For relief and rehabilitation of women

 In a move towards financial  independence of women from Economically Weaker Sections(EWS) and Lower Income Groups(LIG) Government has made a mandatory provision of making the mother or wife to either be sole or co–owner of flats along with beneficiary under the affordable housing scheme. Their names have to be included during registration under the scheme. This provision will be introduced in the Government’s flagship ’Housing for All’ scheme which is being named as Pradhanmantri Awas Yojna PMAY. The provision of ownership of a flat to woman has been included so that they have greater say in domestic affairs. Several states have taken initiative such as reduction  in Stamp Duty   and electricity bill if house is registered in the name of a woman.

Year 1990 proved landmark year with the start of women SHGS across India, large step towards financial independence and thereby empowerment of women. Why SELF HELF GROUPS  because  empowering women through financial independence is the aim of self-help group programme. SHG is the brainchild  of Grameen Bank of Bangldesh founded by Prof. Mohammad Yunus.

SHGs are small voluntary association of 10-20 rural women from same socio-economic background who work together for the purpose of solving their problems through self help and mutual help. The women organize at the grass root level to find innovative solutions to the specific problems which develop self- esteem, self- reliance and self- confidence among them. The members of the group coming  together to save a small amount regularly which are deposited in a common fund to meet members’ emergency needs, to provide collateral free loans decided by the group. SHGs work as an alternative mechanism to meet urgent credit needs of poor. It is a media for developing savings habits among women. It enhances equality of women as participant, decision makers and beneficiaries in the democratic, economic, social and cultural spheres of life.Exet local bodies like NGOS, Government, resource agency and banks are artnered with to  ensure long term sustainability of SHGS.

The main activity of SHG is thrift and credit. The SHGs are trained in different vocations and linked with banks to start micro enterprises either in group or individually based on their interest or viability of vocation. SHGs have been engaged in enterprises like mushroom cultivation, poultry, puffed rice processing, goatry, leaf late processing etc. The SHGs promote small savings with a bank among members. The common fund is in the name of SHG. The SHG members have different financial needs which are met through interloaning in the group .the participative process makes the group a responsible borrower. The group uses collective wisdom and peer pressure to ensure proper end use of credit and timely repayment.  Micro credit system through SHGs has been particularly targeted to poor women who are often discriminated by both by financial institutions and their own households. Therefore, the provision for loan to women may then serve the dual goal of increasing household wealth and empowering females.The key focus of this programme is to develop the capacity of women collectively and empower them to deal with socio economic aspect of their lives.

SHGs have made lasting impacts on rural women. They developed their skills & abilities in various productive activities. Their income ,savings, consumption increased .Their self- reliance i.e. financial independence increased their self confidence. They become bold and frank. They can carry out any type of official work without fear. Their social horizons broadened. The illiterate and semi –illiterate women got satisfaction by becoming productive and decision taking member of the family. There has been significant decline in gender based problems. Some of them are motivating others to form SHGs. Two way process of women empowered and get empowered are going side by side. The SHGs have achieved success in bringing women to the main stream of decision making.

CONCLUSION

Women are taught to lean on male’s resources. The male in traditional patriarchal household  is considered the head of the house. He is considered the breadwinner  .He is the provider . Aslong as women remain financial decedent no amount of lobbying and legislating will result in their empowerment

Women may hold up half the sky. No doubt, women are more assertive in today’s modern world. They are successfully earning livelihood and becoming financially independent. Man cannot exploit a financially independent woman. Modern lifestyles, inflation have necessitated women to supplement the family income. In order to assert themselves vis-à-vis men, women have to be economically independent. They cannot continue to live subservient to men.

I conclude with the statement of our former President of India Mrs Pratibha Devi Singh Patil’s lines-

‘Education is the first tool of empowerment. It is only women education that can challenge the traditions such as child- marriage, dowry system, social -injustice and other sorts of discrimination. The participation of women in all spheres of activity is imperative if human race is to realize full potential Just as a bird flies with two wings and a chariot moves on two wheels, a society needs to have men and women who are equally strong and capable’

References-

1.      Yadav,C.P.(2000) ‘Empowerment of Women’  ISBN-8126106603,Publisher –Lakshmi Shikshan Sansthan.

2.      Uadhyay,H.C. (1991) ‘ Status of Women in India’,  Anmol  Publication  PP35-45

3.      Ganesamurthy, V.S.(2007) ‘ India: Economic Empowerment of Women’, New Century Publications- Business and Economics- ISBN- 8177081446, pp81-84

4.     Reddy,A.Ranga(2002) , ‘Empowerment of Women and Ecological Development’, Serials Publications, ISBN- 8186771018

Difference between Micro and Macro Economics

1. Micro Economics is the study of the problems of the individual units whereas Macro Economics studies the problem all the units collectively.

2.Micro Economics relates to price determination whereas Macro Economics is related to National Income.

3.Micro Economics studies small variables which have very little influence and can not affect the whole economy. For e.g. consumption of a single consumer or production of a single producer can not influence the whole economy. Macro Economics explains some important relationships obtained under the situation of micro statics equilibrium. It explains the macro variables in  an equilibrium position. It can   be explained through this equation-

                                Y = C+I

       where   Y =  TOTAL INCOME
                    C =  TOTAL CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE
                     I =  TOTAL INVESTMENT

Above equation does not study adjustment process but makes it clear that Nation's total income is equal to the addition of Nation's total consumption and total investment.

4.Micro Economics deals with small  segment of economy and Macro Economics deals with aggregate economy.

5. Micro Economics works on principle that market soon create equilibrium. In Macro Economics the economy may be in a state of disequilibrium (boom or recession) for a longer period..

6. Micro Economics tends to work from theory first, Macro Economics places greater emphasis on emperical data and try to explain it.

7. There is little debate about the basic principles of Micro Economics. There are different schools of Macro Economics offering different explanations  e.g. Keynesian, Monetarists, Real business cycle theorists etc.

8.It can be said that Micro Economics is concerned with supply and demand in individual market, individual consumer behaviour, individual labour market etc.whereas Macro Economics is concerned with monetary and fiscal policy e.g. what effect does interest rate have on whole economy, reasons for inflation and unemployment, economic growth, international trade and globalisation, reasons for differences in living standards and economic growth between countries, Government borrowing etc.

Human Resource in Bharat Coking Coal Limited

       

                                                                                                            

                                                                  Abstract

Human Resource has very crucial role in BCCL (Bharat Coking Coal Limited) as the industry is labour-intensive. The achievement of business objectives demands optimal utilization of available manpower. In the current economic environment, productivity, innovation and efficiency are the key factors. The cost of employing manpower in BCCL is high as such continuous efforts are made for development and deployment as per the needs of the organization. To maintain profitability, mechanization, introduction of new technology is being continually attempted for which supply of skilled manpower is ensured wherever necessary. All round efforts are made by the companies to improve labour productivity. Rationalization of manpower has been identified as major thrust area by the management. The companies attach considerable importance to human resource development at all levels.  Concerted actions have been taken by the management to exercise strict control on fresh induction of workers, training and development of existing employees. HR department of BCCL continuously tries to keep pace with fast changing and challenging world. It has taken the challenge to impart training, retraining to the employees for semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled jobs. It is found that the total number of women workers in BCCL had a decreasing trend. Previously women workers were also employed in mines but attempts are going to eliminate the women employees from mines because of hazardous activities. Now women are working managerial and office jobs. The existing human resources include managers, supervisors and workers at all levels of the company. The company is strongly committed to the growth of all its employees.

INTRODUCTION

Dictionary meaning of Human Resource is the set of individuals who make the work force of an organisation, business sector or economy. The active resource of an organisation is human resource, other resources remain inactive in the absence of competent people. Hence, competent and qualified human resource is a key factor for the success of any organisation. Human resource development  play a vital role in enhancing the skills of people.

Human resource development is a process of developing skill, competencies, knowledge and attitude of people in an organisation. It is a continuous process and is concerned with behavioural knowledge. It is a well integrated system. It provides better quality of life. It focuses all round development of human resource.

BCCL is a public sector undertaking. It is a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd. engaged in mining of coal and allied activities. It occupies an important place as it produces bulk of coking coal mined in the country. BCCL fulfills almost fifty percent of total prime coking coal requirements of integrated steel sector. BCCL was incorporated in January 1972 to operate coking coal mines of Jharia and Raniganj coal fields taken over by the Government of India on 16^th October 1971 to ensure plan development of scarce coking coal resources in the country.

HRD is an integral part of management department. HRD in BCCL has been set up for the development existing human resource as well as future requirement with reference to technological advancement and gainful deployment of existing manpower to fulfill the demand of production and technology.

The development of its resources through a sound personnel policy and planned HRD inputs has enabled the organization to grow with the time and fulfill its obligation to the nations.

DISCUSSION

A Corporate HRD Plan has been developed by Coal India Ltd. on the basis of review of performance of HRD during last five years and strategic HRD Plan developed for next five years. The annual plan was worked out to integrate the efforts of HRD in all the training centers, located in different subsidiaries. The strategy was to utilize available in-house training infrastructure as well as meeting the needs with the help of existing training capabilities.

Manpower

Human resource management in Coal India is one of the strategic functions as the industry is labour intensive. The achievement of business objectives demands optimal utilization of available manpower. The cost of employing this manpower is high; as such continuous efforts are made for development and deployment as per the needs of the organization. Development and deployment of surplus women employees has also been started to derive benefits from their utilization. To maintain profitability, mechanization and introduction of new technology are being continually attempted for which supply of skilled manpower is ensured wherever necessary. All round efforts are made by the companies to improve labour productivity with reference to current status of manpower in Coal India.

Rationalization of manpower has been identified as a major thrust area by the management. The personnel policies of the organization have been formulated to ensure positive constitution by its employees. The Coal India management attaches considerable importance to Human Resource Development at all levels. Concerted action has been taken by the management to exercise strict control on fresh induction of workers, training and development of existing employees with a view to ensure skill up-gradation and also to achieve rationalization by retirement of workers through natural separation and voluntary retirement scheme. The company has been able to achieve substantial reduction in the employees’ strength and increase in the productivity.

Coal India Ltd. and its subsidiary companies prepare the Annual Manpower Budget for all the units starting from colliery, projects and areas up to the company headquarters level. The budget takes into consideration the designation-wise and skill-wise requirement of manpower and their deployment in different units and establishments. The company has now undertaken a comprehensive exercise to identify the surplus manpower in companies like ECL, BCCL & CCL and has also fixed the targets for bringing about rationalization in manpower strength. Efforts are also on to identify the workers who are trainable and who could be gainfully employed by intra – company and inter – subsidiary transfers. The company is faced with a major problem of mismatch of workers due to the provision for employment of next of kin in case of death and permanent physical disablement. The management has started a dialogue with the unions to bring about suitable modification in the provision. 

The coal industry management felt an acute shortage of personnel in the executive cadre, particularly in the mining and engineering category. To fulfill the gap the management appointed a large number of mining and engineering staff with a view to obtain the objectives of nationalization. However, the comparative analysis of production and manpower strength of company reveals that although there had been sharp increase in production level, the manpower strength in BCCL had reduced from 1,77,458 on 1^st April 75 to 1,13,738 on 1^st April 2001 and further to 57,491 in 30.09.2014 (source CIL Corporate Portal).

MANPOWER AUDIT

Coal India Ltd. has a well-laid down system of Manpower Audit in all the companies. Standing Committees for Manpower Audit have been formed at company headquarters to monitor and control issues relating to manpower and their deployment. The company has also introduced fortress checking so as to ensure that there is effective check in the actual deployment of workers and the salary being paid to the employees.

Employment in different grades

There are several categories of employee in BCCL. We may categorize like Executive, Non-Executive. Non-Executive further may be subdivided as monthly rated, daily rated, piece rated etc.

The following table shows the current manpower strength of BCCL:

BCCL MANPOWER STRNGTH
CATEGORY	01.04.2009	31.03.2010	30.09.2014
EXECUTIVE	2188	2004	2504
MONTHLY RATED	15219	14518	9495
DAILY  RATED	43035	45356	42403
PIECE RATED	14623	8983	2233
TRAINEE	1027	763	856
TOTAL	76092	71624	57491

(Source: HQ, Koylabhawan, BCCL)

Women Employment:

The strength of women employment in BCCL has reduced considerably. In the year 1983-84, the total number of woman worker was 16770 which reduced to 9099 in 2001 (Source: Annual Report of CIL and BCCL-1983-2002).3 and further to 5799 as on 31.03.2013 (Source: Annual Report of CIL and BCCL-2012-2013)4.   

It is clear that total number of woman worker in BCCL had a decreasing trend. Previously woman worker was also employed in mines. But attempts are going on to eliminate the woman employee from mines, because of hazards activities. Now woman employment is increasing for official and managerial jobs. A number of schemes are implemented to reduce the female employment in BCCL such as Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS)- By giving the job opportunity to her husband, son or son-in-law or VRS introduction by government (for male and female) – after 10 years of service or 40 years age.

In BCCL and ECL had the largest number of women miners but their role is declining due to increase mechanization  to improve production through technologies such as dragline and shovel for open cast mine, long wall for underground mines etc. There has been no attempt to impart training and skills to enable them to adjust the reorganization of work. Women now occupy marginal position in BCCL industries because they are made redundant in labour process.

CONCLUSION

The declining number of manpower in BCCL is a matter of grave concern as this industry  is labour intensive and India is facing the problem of unemployment. No recruitment was made in the industry for ten years as per Government instructions due to sickness of the industry but now the production has been improved hence more employment is desirable. 

REFERENCES:

1.CIL Corporate Portal

2.HQ, Koylabhawan, BCCL

3.Annual Report of CIL and BCCL-1983-2002).

4.Annual Report of CIL and BCCL-2012-2013).   

Agriculture and Globalisation

AGRICULTURE AND ECONOMIC REFORMS

INTRODUCTION:

Indian economy was ruled by social democratic policies since independence to 1991. It was characterized by regulation, protectionism, licensing, import substitution and central planning, industrialization, economic interventionism, and slow growth. The collapse of Soviet Union, the major trading partner of India and tremendous hike in oil price led major loop crises in India. India had to take $ 1.8 billion conditional loan from IMF. The condition of reform for loan imposed by IMF in 1991 did away with the license permit-quota Raj, reduced tariffs and interest rates, ended public monopolies and allowed foreign direct investment in many sectors.

By the turn of 20^th century, India moved towards a free market economy with reduction in state control and increased financial liberalization.

After the mid 1990s, agriculture lost its momentum and subsequently entered  near a crisis situation, reflected farmer suicide in some areas. In some areas one of the major challenges was to reverse the deceleration in agricultural growth.

Agriculture is the cornerstone of our economy. With 14.6% contribution to the GDP, agriculture is still livelihood of more than 50% of country’s population. Unfortunately agriculture alone is no longer able to provide a reliable livelihood for growth of population. Indian agriculture has taken notable strides in last two decades. India was food deficient country since two decades after independence but due to Green Revolution during mid 1960s with the introduction of HYV seeds, irrigation facilities, fertilizers and pesticides, creations of storage and marketing facilities and provisions of adequate and fair distribution of food grains  improved drastically. But green revolution was limited to certain areas which are endowed with irrigation and other agro infrastructure. But in 1990 there was failure in agriculture front. Prof Y.R.Alagh  has noted that India’s net sown area under the crops has fallen drastically for the first time and also for the first time in history, area under canal irrigation has fallen. In such a backdrop, agricultural revival is an important aspect of entering into double digit growth rate. Apart from investment in farm sector, we must strengthen our natural resources which have remained undeveloped. The targeted growth of 4.15 in agriculture may be possible to achieve by providing required inputs. But defensive position of the country relating to the impacts of globalization and liberalization has not been clearly dealt by the existing national agricultural strategy. The various rounds of negotiation in WTO at Doha 2001, Cancun 2003 & Singapore 2005 indicate that Indian agriculture is no more insulated from any development in world agriculture. In the wake of economic reforms agriculture products and commodities will have to play an active role in country’s international trade. But India is still exporting less valued agricultural goods like tea, coffee, cashew, soya-meals, spices etc. Thus it is  high time to rewrite the agricultural strategy to get maximum benefits from the new opportunities generated by economic reforms of last two decades.

This paper tries to discuss the challenges faced by agriculture development and give some suggestions to improve the situations.

The total geographical area of the country is 328.7 million hectare where gross cropped area is 190 million hectare and net sown area is 141 million hectare. The net area under irrigation is 57 million hectare. We have not been able to make optimum use of the vast potential in agriculture. To achieve and maintain GDP growth rate above 8%, agriculture has to grow by at least 4% every year.

INVESTMENT

Economic reforms led to entrance of private sector and restriction on public sector investment in agriculture especially in irrigation along with other sectors. The capital formation in agriculture sector is already low due to lower income which also decline to 1.7% of GDP in 2004-05 from 2% GDP in 1990s. The stagnant investment in agriculture led to low productivity. Investment on research and development of agriculture also reduced. Agriculture should be industrialized and emphasis should be given on farm mechanization.

PROTECTION

During economic reforms period and post Green Revolution period, the industries were highly protected and agriculture remained unprotected. Opening of Indian agriculture under WTO and changing world agriculture strategies was not shared by all sections of the society.

AGRICULTURE PRICE POLICY

In the post reform era, the policy of maximum support price of food grains, their procurement and distribution system and lack of reforms  restricted the  free movement of agricultural goods across the states.

Some states imposed purchase levies on essential commodities lead to decelerate the demand for food grains in spite of rise in per capita income and decline in relative price of food grain. These deceleration was the  root cause of problem of rural distress that has surfaced in many parts of the  country as reflected in farmer suicides.

SUICIDE & MIGRATION AND RISE OF BURDEN ON WOMEN

 Low farm income due to inadequate productivity combined with low prices of output and with lack of credit at reasonable rates push many farmers into cropping debt. Since nationalization of commercial banks in 1969, the government had strongly pursued a policy of social and development banking in rural areas thereby displacing the money lenders and land lords. The policy of social banking was criticized by proponents of financial liberalization after 1991. Narsimhan Committee decided to delink the monetary policy from the objective of redistribution which was the centre of social and development banking. It was argued that bank should work on commercial basis and profitability should be their prime concern. As a result flow of rural credit declined sharply and credit supply from informal sector sharply raised the cost of credit. Even uncertainties seem to have increased regarding prices, quality of inputs, weather and pests which coupled with unavailability of proper extension and risk insurance have led farmers to despair. This has led to widespread distress migration leading to rise in number of female headed house-hold in rural  areas and a general increase in women work and vulnerability.

In 2004-05 women accounted for 34% principal and 89% of subsidiary worker in agriculture higher than any previous round of National sample survey.

NAXALISM

“Where hunger rules peace can not prevail.

The approach paper of 11^th Plan says that if agriculture goes wrong poverty and hunger persist on a large scale. Naxalism which is already affecting more than 100 districts in the country will spread further. We have the world’s largest number of malnourished children and women .

DEREGULATION OF MARKETING AND LEGALISATION OF CONTRACT FARMING:

India’s food  security is badly affected by reform measures of WTO regime. WTO shifted the policy emphasis from “Food first to Export first’.  After 1991, the policy of promoting high value export oriented crop encouraged through deregulation of marketing system which led to legalization of

1.)  private corporate farming

2.)  direct purchase of agricultural produce from farmers by global retail chains bypassing regulated market.

3.)  Entry of private players/MNCs to open and control new markets. The argument behind this policy is that farmer would become free to sell their produce to buyers of their choice and get higher prices. But according to national commission of farmers has noted three major impacts of contract farming:

a)    the purchaser is likely to be interested in short-term gains and may therefore suggest practices not good in the long run for the land or the producers.

b)    Producer may shift in the favour of export oriented crops at the cost of crops providing basic food.

c)    Larger producer may prefer partner ignoring the small land-owners. This practice in the long run encouraged the small farmers to sell or lease out their land and work as labourers. So contract farming is associated with increase in labour displacement in farm.

SEED SECURITY

WTO Regime opened the doors for many multinational seed companies like Pioneer, Monsonto etc. which tried to gain control over the seeds and made the local farmers dependent on hybrid seeds made by them and thereby checking the self reliance of Indian farmers.

BIO-PIRACY

WTO regime  also  led MNCs in process of stealing the biological wealth of the third world countries in the name of patents by crossbreeding with the  other varieties of  seeds ,plants etc. from developing countries and claiming that they have produced a new variety and secure patent rights and charging royalties for that. The examples are Indian Basmati, Neem etc.

STRATEGIES FOR IRRIGATION:

Only 20% of irrigation area covered by Water User Association should be encouraged to collect water charges and use part of it for maintenance. Only 11 states have enacted legislation for participatory Irrigation Management Act. Excess use of groundwater is depleting ground water levels. Problems compounded by cheap or free power. An expert Group looking at possible solutions.

WATER LAVEL

Fresh water reserves are depleting due to growing population, unsustainable land use practices, extensive deforestation, increasing demand of industries and agriculture. Water has direct effect on the environment and society so water management is the need of the hour. Since rain fall in India is confined mainly to the south-west monsoon from June to September and are quite erratic during summer, tube wells do not function, other water resources dried up due to depletion of water table.

FERTILISERS.

The selling price of fertilizers has increased since 2002 and it is going on increasing although Govt. is giving subsidy on it. The consumption of N, P, K fertilizers is reduced from 109.2 lakh tones to 64.4 from 2000 to 2006 from 42.2. lakh tones to 25.4 lakh tonnes 15.7. to 11.5 respectively. When negotiations on agriculture is complete in WTO India will have no way but to reduce direct and indirect subsidy on agriculture.

Economic reforms have ended License Raj but it has increased corruption in various forms and fields. Last two decades have become witness of happiness and prosperity also . Crores of people got the keys of cars, crores of people become house owner for the first time majority people attached themselves with banking system. India made its position as 2^nd emerging economic power in international platform. Economy is among one of some economies which stood firmly during last financial Tsunami when many stalwart economies started collapsing like playing card castles.

WIDENING the gap between haves and have nots:

During last two decades the gap has widened in consumption also along with income so far as poverty is concerned then after economic reforms neither the number nor the percentage of poor reduced. During 1991 46 NSSO report 35% were poor today also their no. is 50 crore.

SUGGESTIONS

1.    Polyhouse cultivation

2.    Organic farming

3.    contract farming

4.    credit facilities KCC etc though SHG, MFI/NGO

5.    financial Inclusion

6.    Agriclinic, soil test

7.    Land acquisition Law

8.    Marketting , Cold Storage, Godowns, NSP

9.    Financing for farm machinery

10.Krishi Bima Yojna

11.Commodity Supply Chain

12.Export of Agri products

13.Farmers  Corner

14.Minor and drip irrigation

15.Production of commercial crops, fruits, mushrooms , medicinal plants etc.

CONCLUSION

Indian agriculture which continues to provide livelihood for more than half of the population, economic reforms policies after 1991 has acute adverse effects on Indian economy.  Green Revolution helped India to achieve self sufficiency in agricultural production. This was built on platform of state support, price subsidy, credit and marketing support.

Economic reform after 1991 was based on explicit rejection of the need to transform the institutional framework of Indian Agriculture. The need of the hour was industrialization of agriculture i.e. extra investment, mechanization, credit facilities, irrigation facilities, storage facilities etc. But reform process in India significantly weakened the institutional support structure. The protection offer to agriculture from import was removed, resulted in fall in price of many commodities. Many subsidies were brought down. Public capital formation in Agriculture started falling and public expenditure on research and development slowed down. The expansion of rural credit decreased and agriculture production shifted from food crops to high value export crops. Regulated markets become obsolete. All these resulted fall in growth of food grain production for the first time after independence, the per-capita availability of food grain fell down from 175 kg in 1992 to  163 kg in 2001.NSSdata show  that the average calorie intake has declined by 298 points in rural areas and by 30 points in urban areas of our country.

The number of farmer suicide reported from certain parts of the country shows the distress state of agriculture. Between 1997 to 2006, there were about 150000 suicides by farmers in rural India (Nagraj 2008).

Due to lower productivity, weak inputs and lack of market support the Indian farmers are not able to compete in world market.

India needs the immediate measures of insuring markets, developing roads, creating appropriate infra structure and encouraging private sector participation .Co-operative farming should be encouraged , and farmers should be made share- holders in  contract farming  scheme .Otherwise MNCs,CORPORATE SECTORS  will take away all the profits and farmers will remain tillers only

No doubt India is shining. It is one of the fastest growing economy of the world .For 2010, India was ranked 124^th among 179 countries in index of Economic Freedom World Rankings, which is an  improvement. But India is on crossroads. While one road leads India to prosperity and glory ,the other roads leads it to social inequality. What has been conveniently suppressed till date have been the disparities, mainly the socio economic issues. This led to growing discontent among the population and it has gathered momentum since the reforms bean. It will very soon reach a critical point wherein the very   purpose for which the reforms were  started ,will start to lose their significance rapidly and throw the country back to the license raj and unionist era.

References:-

1.Chanakya,Civil Services Today,( Magazine)September 2011,pp125.

2.Jalan, Bimal, The Future of India,2006,pp-79

3.Bhagwati ,Jagadish & Panagariiya, India’s Tryst With Destiny,2012, pp183-89