Read the following descriptions and answer the questions that follow:
Story of Ramu
Ramu is a casual labourer in agriculture in Raipur village. He has a son named Somu who is 10 years old and he is the eldest one who also works as a pali to look after the cattle of the Sarpanch of the village Satpal Singh. Somu is paid Rs. 1000 per year for this work which is decided by the Sarpanch. Ramu has three more sons and two daughters but they can’t work because they are too young to work in a field. His wife Sunhari is also a part time worker who works as a cleaner for the livestock, removing and managing cow dung. There she gets 1/2 liter milk and some cooked food along with vegetables for her daily work. Sometimes she also helps his husband in field work to supplement his earnings. As we all know agriculture is a seasonal activity, so Ramu is employed during times of sowing, transplanting and harvesting but he remains unemployed for about 4 months during the time period of plant consolidation and maturing in a year. He looks for other works during this period to earn the livelihood. Sometimes he gets employed for construction work so somehow he is able to earn his livelihood which can meet his basic needs, to buy essentials and two square meals for his family. But during the days when he is unemployed he had to face a lot of complexities and even sometimes his kids have to sleep without food. Because of low income of the family milk and vegetables is luxury for them. He remains unemployed because of the seasonal nature of work.
1. Why is agriculture a seasonal activity?
2. Why is Ramu unemployed for about four months in a year?
3. What does Ramu do when he is unemployed?
4. What are supplementing income in Ramu’s family?
5. Why does Ramu face difficulty when he is unable to have work?
6. When is Ramu food insecure?
1. Agriculture is considered a seasonal activity because it is highly dependent on the weather conditions. Each crop requires some mandatory climatic conditions for consolidation and thus it is generally not possible to grow them in unfavorable weather. Also as the crops once sowed needs time to mature and ready for harvest, thus it provides only seasonal employment.
2. Ramu remains unemployed for about four months because agriculture is a seasonal activity, and he didn’t have much land to grow different kind of crops. Being a poor farmer he didn’t have money to invest in other works as well so he has no other options rather than sitting idle or doing some petty jobs during four months period.
3. Ramu looks for other works like brick lying or construction when he is unemployed for 4 months. These jobs allow him to earn just enough to keep his family fed and clothed.
4. Ramu’s eldest son Somu and Ramu’s wife Sunhari bring the supplementing incomes in the family. His son Somu works as a help in the field. Sunhari works as a house help and occasionally also works in the fields to earn something extra in cash or kind.
5. Ramu faces difficulty when he is unable to find work because during the time of unemployment it becomes very difficult to arrange money for food and other necessities of the family. Also being poor, they don’t have any savings to rely upon.
6. Ramu is food insecure at the times when he is unemployed. This situation makes it difficult for him and his family to arrange for food, as unemployment is followed by lack of monetary resources.
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