Tobacco development and labour migration. Planning for labour welfare and development
Rao, M.S.A.
Economic and Political Weekly 13(29): 1183-1186
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-9976 Document Number: 322763
The author discusses the variety of operations connected with tobacco cultivation and the nature of the skills required on the part of the labourers. The introduction of tobacco cultivation in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh led to a stream of migrant workers from areas where tobacco cultivation has declined. While support is given to farmers by government agencies and commercial concerns in the form of easy credit, fertilizer, technical help and marketing facilities, in contrast, labourers live in miserable camp conditions with non-existent medical and educational facilities. The labour is not organized in any form. Thus a plea is made for labour development and welfare planning as an integral part of the programme of tobacco development.