Magnitude and Pattern of Non-Farm Employment among Scheduled Caste in Western Plain Zone of Punjab

The present study examines the magnitude and  pattern of non-farm employment among schedule caste respondents in western plain zone of Punjab. The study was based on multi stage random sampling technique. Both primary and secondary sources of data was used for the study. For analysis of the data simple  percentages, averages and regression analysis was used. The study found that 63 percent of scheduled caste respondents adopted both farm and non-farm activities for their livelihood. The average operated area came out to be one acre among selected scheduled caste respondents. Among non-farm activities in the study area, 41 percent scheduled casted respondents were engaged as casual labourers. .Due to lack of skill they are left with no other option but to work for daily wages in unskilled jobs. Pattern of income from farm and non-farm activities shows that the income of respondents engaged in both farm and non-farm activities was double than the income of respondents engaged in farm activities only. The average per monthly income of SC respondents engaged in farm activities only was Rs. 7764 whereas average income of SC respondents engaged in both  farm and non-farm activities was Rs. 13382. The study suggested that skill development centres specific for the need of the SC respondents should be opened in their areas.The average operated area was marginally low in the study area so the only hope to increase the income of SC respondents is non-farm activities in the rural areas. The priority should be attached to the removal of barriers of any kind for the people to enter into the non-farm activities besides improving infrastructure facilities like banking, roads, market and communication facilities in the rural areas, facilitating more poor agricultural labourers and jobless people to take up some kind of non-farm activities for their livelihood.