According to the 1991 population census, the proportion of total workers in the total population of the State was nearly 43% which was almost the same as that in 1981. The proportion of workers was substantially higher in rural areas (49.7%) than that in urban areas (32.3%). This proportion in the State was higher than that for the country as a whole (37.7%) The proportion of total male workers to the male population in the State marginally declined from 53.7% in 1981 to 52.2% in 1991. Unlike the decline observed in the proportion of male workers the proportion of female workers to the female population in the State increased from 30.6% in 1981 to 33.1% in 1991. The proportion of final workers in the rural ares of the State was 46.0 per cent which was significantly higher than the proporation in the urban areas (11.4%). The proportion of female workers to the total workers in the State was 37.2%. Main and Marginal Workers The composition of workers in 1991 indicates that the proportion of main workers (persons who worked for a major part of the year i.e. more than 183 days in a year) to total population in the State slightly increased from 38.7% in 1981 to 39.3% in 1991. However, the proportion of marginal workers (those who worked for less than 183 days in a year) to total population which was 3.7% in 1991, remained almost the same as that in 1981. The incidence of marginal work among the males was very low as compared to females. Only 0.92% of the males in the State were marginal workers, while 6.64% females were marginal workers. The incidence of marginal work was comparatively high in the rural areas (5.5%) than that in urban areas (0.82%). ECONOMIC CLASSIFICATION OF WORKERS 1991
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Maharashtra India
Class of -------------------------------------
workers Males Females Males Females
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Cultivators 6.231 3.741 88.481 22.221
Agricultural 3.906 4.408 46.165 28.433
labourers
In livestock, 0.404 0.068 4.716 1.325
forestry,
fishing
hunting and
plantation
orchards and
allied
activities
In mining
and 0.098 0.017 1.537 0.214
quarrying
In manufa-
cturing,
processing,
servicing
and
repairs...
(a) Household 0.337 0.162 4.555 2.249
industry
(b) Other than 3.251 0.347 19.414 2.453
household
industry
In construction 0.709 0.073 5.122 0.421
In trade and 2.400 0.256 19.863 1.434
commerce
In transport, 1.116 0.045 7.810 0.208
storage and
communication
In other 2.648 0.751 23.995 5.316
services
Total main 20.919 10.088 221.659 64.274
workers,
Marginal 0.374 2.530 2.705 25.494
workers
Total non- 19.525 25.486 210.844 313.592
workers
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Total workers 40.817 38.104 435.208 403.360
and non-workers.
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Sources :Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Government of India, New Delhi- 1991 Census - Primary Census Abstract Maharashtra (Final) and NICNET. Share of Employment in different Industries in Maharashtra
% of workers to total workers
-----------------------------
Industry 1961 1991 1992
--------------------------------------
Food Products 7.0 10.5 10.5
Beverages 0.1 0.5 0.5
Tobacco & Products 4.3 0.4 0.4
Cotton Textile 40.9 16.0 16.5
Wool, Silk & Manmade
Fabric Textile 4.4 3.8 3.4
Textile Products 1.7 1.9 2.1
Wood & Products 1.4 1.3 1.3
Paper & Products 5.0 4.2 4.3
Leather & Products 0.1 0.3 0.3
Chemical & Products 4.3 10.4 10.4
Rubber, Plastic,
Petroleum &
Coal Products 2.2 4.1 4.0
Now Metallic mineral
Products 3.6 3.6 3.6
Basic metal & Alloys 6.3 11.1 10.9
Machinery & Equipments 7.5 13.8 13.9
Transport Equipment
& Parts 6.0 7.4 6.9
Other Manuf. Industries 2.0 2.0 2.9
Others 3.2 8.7 9.1
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100 100 100
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Source : Economic Survey, Maharashtra 1997-98 |