Story of Ramu
Ramu works as a casual labourer in agriculture in Raipur village. His eldest son Somu who is 10 years old also works as a pali to look after the cattle of the Sarpanch of the village Satpal Singh. Somu is employed for the whole year by the Sarpanch and is paid a sum of ? 1,000 for this work.
Ramu has three more sons and two daughters, but they are too young to work on the field.
His wife Sunhari is also (part time) working as house cleaner for the livestock, removing and managing cow dungTShe gets V2 litre milk and some cooked food along with vegetables for her daily work.
Besides she also works in the field along with her husband in the busy season and supplements his earnings. Agriculture being a seasonal activity employs Ramu only during times of sowing, transplanting and harvesting. He remains unemployed for about 4 months during the period of plant consolidation and maturing in a year. He looks for work in other activities. Sometimes, he gets employment in brick, laying or in construction activities in the village.
By all his efforts, Ramu is able to earn enough either in cash or kind for him to buy essentials for two square meals for his family. However, during the days when he is unable to get some work, he and his family really face difficulties and sometimes his small kids have to sleep without food. Milk and vegetables are not a regular part of meals in the family. Ramu is food insecure during 4 months when he remains unemployed because of the seasonal nature of agriculture work.
On the basis of above story, answer the following questions.
(a) Why is Ramu unemployed for about 4 months in a year?
(b) What does Ramu do when he is unemployed?
© Who are supplementing income in Ramu’s family?
(d) Why does Ramu face difficulty when he is unable to have work?
(e) When is Ramu food insecure?
(a) Agriculture has a sowing and harvesting season which is a very busy period for farmers and requires extra labour. So casual labourers like Ramu get employment during these period for about 8 months in a year.
(b) Ramu is a casual agricultural labourer and is only seasonally employed. During the unseasonable period, he gets employment in brick laying or in construction activities in the village.
© Ramu’s wife Sunhari and his son Somu are supplementing the income in Ramu’s family. Somu works for the Sarpanch by looking after the cattle and is paid ? 1,000 for this work. Sunhari also works as house cleaner and a casual labourer during the busy season.
(d) Ramu is seasonally employed and does odd jobs to survive. But sometimes, he is unable to get any work at all and during that period, he faces difficulty in getting two square meals for his family.
(e) Ramu, who is a casual labourer in agriculture becomes seasonally unemployed and does odd jobs during that period. But sometimes, he is unable to get any work at all and is totally unemployed and feces poverty and is also unable to buy food for his children. He is food insecure during the 4 months when he is unemployed.