I am the Government Labour Officer-State Protection for Rural Proletariat of South Gujarat

'I am the Government Labour Officer ... ' State Protection for Rural Proletariat of South Gujarat Jan Breman Gujarat is one of the states in which the government claims to make vigorous efforts to improve the conditions of those who, in official jargon, have fallen behind in the development process. In this context agricultural labourers from an important target group and several years ago a separate government agency was set up especially for them, to supervise compliance with the law on minimum wages. A Rural Labour Commissioner based in Gandhi- nagar heads the organisation, which has its own offices and personnel in every district with a high percentage of landless. Surat in South Gujarat is one of these concentration areas.