Arjun Sengupta Commission Report

The National Commission for Enterprises in Unorganised Sector (NCEUS), set up by the UPA government in September 2004, with Arjun Sengupta as chairman, presented its report on May 16, 2006 to the prime minister.

Findings of the report, inter alia, are summarised as under.

Over 394.9 million workers (more than 85 per cent of the working population and more than 78 per cent of the workers in unorganised sector) live with an income of less than Rs. 20 a day.

Eighty-eight per cent of the Scheduled Tribes and the Scheduled Castes, 80 per cent of the Other Backward Classes and 85 per cent of Muslims belong to the category of “poor and vulnerable,” who earn less than Rs. 20 a day.

Twenty-one to 46 per cent of men and 57 to 83 per cent of women in non-agricultural sectors   are employed as casual workers, who get less than minimum wages.

The unorganised workforce contributes around 60% to the national economic output of the country.

Urban households earn 85% more than rural ones, but spend three-quarter more and, as a result, save nearly the double of what rural households do.

Households of the small and marginal farmers account for 84 per cent and are forced to spend more than they earn and are under debt, while 90 per cent of agricultural labour households are landless or have less than one hectare of holding.