Kolkata, Dec 5, : Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee occasionally stated that the state government was committed to supporting farmers, agricultural workers, and rural labourers.However, a recent Reserve Bank of India report shows that rural workers in West Bengal are earning less than the national average. The Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2020-21 reveals that the state’s daily wage is the lowest among the major states.The Handbook categorizes rural workers into four groups: non-agricultural workers (agriculture), construction workers, and horticulture workers.The wage patterns of the four types are very different among the workers.
In 2020-21, the daily wage rate of the West Bengal rural population under the general agricultural workers parameter was Rs 288.60.This is lower than the national average of Rs 319.90 for the same period.The daily wage for agricultural labour was Rs 267.50 per person in the financial year 2019-20.The highest daily wage for agricultural workers is Rs 706.50 per person, which is the highest among all states.Some of the most important states, including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh as well as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, have lower daily wages than West Bengal.
West Bengal’s daily wage for construction workers is Rs 300.20.This is compared to the national average daily wage of Rs 340.70.This is a slight increase from the previous fiscal year, when the daily wage for construction workers was just Rs 290.50.Surprisingly, the daily wage for construction workers is Rs 829.70.This is the highest in the country.The daily wage for construction workers in four states — Gujarat Madhya Pradesh Odisha Tripura and Madhya Pradesh — is lower than West Bengal.
The daily wage for labourers in West Bengal’s non-agricultural areas is also low.The average national wage is Rs 309.1.The labourers get Rs 305.70, while the average in India is Rs 309.1.Kerala’s non-agricultural workers earn Rs 677.6, which is the highest in India.Bihar, Odisha and Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh (Karnataka, Gujarat), Uttar Pradesh, Tripura.Assam, Assam, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have a lower daily wage structure than West Bengal for non-agricultural workers.
“As per West Bengal’s land holding pattern, each farmland owner has a very limited area of land under their control.This farmland doesn’t give enough land to provide a decent wage for the farmers, so the state’s rural economy is not flourishing.
The rural wage rates in non-farm sector are lower than the national average.This is a worrying sign for the state of West Bengal’s rural economy,” an economist who declined to be identified told IANS.
“The state government has not taken enough steps to ensure minimum wages for agricultural workers.” He said that the state government must ensure that an initiative is taken today to ensure its positive impact over time.
Becharam Manna, the state labour minister, was unavailable for comment.
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