Police and Women

Union (AIAWU, a sister organisation of AIKS started last year) admits, "According to the Rural Labour Enquiry Committee report of 1974-75 only one per cent of agricultural workers is unionised. At present it may be at the most two per cent. Ninety eight per cent of agricultural workers remain without any organisation''. This fact gets reflected in the membership of AIAWU as well, as may be seen from the Table. While the membership of AIAWU in eight states add up to 7,90,420, a state like Tamil Nadu alone has 59,47,614 agricultural main workers (Census 1981: Provisional Results). In contrast to the weak bargaining strength of the agricultural workers, the demand for remunerative prices can be articulated more efficiently with a larger number of interested ones to back it, the support coming from all quarters