Page 1
UNIT - IV
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 59 14-11-2022 04:32:52 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 2
UNIT - IV
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 59 14-11-2022 04:32:52 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
In the first chapter we looked at the many kinds of
diversity in our lives. We also explored how living in
different regions has an effect on the work people
do, the kinds of plants, trees, crops or things that
become important to them. In this chapter we will
look at the different ways in which people earn
their living in villages. And here too, as in the first
two chapters, we will examine whether people
have equal opportunities to earn a living. We will
look at the similarities in their life situations and
the problems that they face.
Chapter 7
Rural
Livelihoods
1. Describe the work that you see people doing in the above
pictures.
2. Identify the different types of work that are related to farming
and those that are not. List these in a table.
3. In your notebook draw some pictures of work that you have
seen people do in rural areas and write a few sentences that
describe the work
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 60 14-11-2022 04:32:52 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 3
UNIT - IV
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 59 14-11-2022 04:32:52 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
In the first chapter we looked at the many kinds of
diversity in our lives. We also explored how living in
different regions has an effect on the work people
do, the kinds of plants, trees, crops or things that
become important to them. In this chapter we will
look at the different ways in which people earn
their living in villages. And here too, as in the first
two chapters, we will examine whether people
have equal opportunities to earn a living. We will
look at the similarities in their life situations and
the problems that they face.
Chapter 7
Rural
Livelihoods
1. Describe the work that you see people doing in the above
pictures.
2. Identify the different types of work that are related to farming
and those that are not. List these in a table.
3. In your notebook draw some pictures of work that you have
seen people do in rural areas and write a few sentences that
describe the work
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 60 14-11-2022 04:32:52 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Rural Livelihoods / 61
morning and snacks like vadai, bonda
and mysorepak in the evening. Near
the teashops in a corner lives a
blacksmith family whose home serves
as their workshop. Next to their home
is a cycle hire and repair shop. Two
families earn a living by washing
clothes. There are some people
who go to the nearby town to work
as construction workers and lorry
drivers.
The village is surrounded by low
hills. Paddy is the main crop that
is grown in irrigated lands. Most of
the families earn a living through
agriculture.
Kalpattu village
K
alpattu is a village that’s close
to the sea coast in Tamil Nadu.
People here do many kinds of work.
As in other villages, here too there
is non-farm work such as making
baskets, utensils, pots, bricks,
bullock-carts etc.
There are people who provide
services such as blacksmiths, nurses,
teachers, washermen, weavers,
barbers, cycle repair mechanics and
so on. There are also some
shopkeepers and traders. In the main
street, which looks like a bazaar, you
Transplanting paddy is back-breaking work.
will find a variety of small shops such
as tea shops, grocery shops, barber
shops, a cloth shop, a tailor and
two fertiliser and seed shops. There
are four teashops, which sell tiffin –
such as idli, dosai and upama in the
There are some
coconut groves around.
Cotton, sugar cane and
plantain are also grown,
and there are mango
orchards. Let us now
meet some people who
work in the fields in
Kalpattu and see what
we can learn about
farming from them.
Thulasi
All of us here work on
Ramalingam’s land.
He has twenty acres
of paddy fields in
Kalpattu. Even before I was married
I used to work on paddy fields in my
parental village. I work from 8.30 in
the morning till 4.30 in the evening
and Karuthamma, Ramalingam’s wife,
supervises us.
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 61 14-11-2022 04:32:54 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 4
UNIT - IV
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 59 14-11-2022 04:32:52 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
In the first chapter we looked at the many kinds of
diversity in our lives. We also explored how living in
different regions has an effect on the work people
do, the kinds of plants, trees, crops or things that
become important to them. In this chapter we will
look at the different ways in which people earn
their living in villages. And here too, as in the first
two chapters, we will examine whether people
have equal opportunities to earn a living. We will
look at the similarities in their life situations and
the problems that they face.
Chapter 7
Rural
Livelihoods
1. Describe the work that you see people doing in the above
pictures.
2. Identify the different types of work that are related to farming
and those that are not. List these in a table.
3. In your notebook draw some pictures of work that you have
seen people do in rural areas and write a few sentences that
describe the work
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 60 14-11-2022 04:32:52 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Rural Livelihoods / 61
morning and snacks like vadai, bonda
and mysorepak in the evening. Near
the teashops in a corner lives a
blacksmith family whose home serves
as their workshop. Next to their home
is a cycle hire and repair shop. Two
families earn a living by washing
clothes. There are some people
who go to the nearby town to work
as construction workers and lorry
drivers.
The village is surrounded by low
hills. Paddy is the main crop that
is grown in irrigated lands. Most of
the families earn a living through
agriculture.
Kalpattu village
K
alpattu is a village that’s close
to the sea coast in Tamil Nadu.
People here do many kinds of work.
As in other villages, here too there
is non-farm work such as making
baskets, utensils, pots, bricks,
bullock-carts etc.
There are people who provide
services such as blacksmiths, nurses,
teachers, washermen, weavers,
barbers, cycle repair mechanics and
so on. There are also some
shopkeepers and traders. In the main
street, which looks like a bazaar, you
Transplanting paddy is back-breaking work.
will find a variety of small shops such
as tea shops, grocery shops, barber
shops, a cloth shop, a tailor and
two fertiliser and seed shops. There
are four teashops, which sell tiffin –
such as idli, dosai and upama in the
There are some
coconut groves around.
Cotton, sugar cane and
plantain are also grown,
and there are mango
orchards. Let us now
meet some people who
work in the fields in
Kalpattu and see what
we can learn about
farming from them.
Thulasi
All of us here work on
Ramalingam’s land.
He has twenty acres
of paddy fields in
Kalpattu. Even before I was married
I used to work on paddy fields in my
parental village. I work from 8.30 in
the morning till 4.30 in the evening
and Karuthamma, Ramalingam’s wife,
supervises us.
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 61 14-11-2022 04:32:54 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
62 / Social and Political Life
This is one of the few times in the
year that I find regular work. Now I
am transplanting the paddy, when the
plants have grown a bit Ramalingam
will call us again for weeding and then
finally once again for the harvesting.
When I was young I could do this
work with no difficulty. But now as I
grow older I find bending for long
hours with my feet in water very painful.
Ramalingam pays Rs 40 per day. This
is a little less than what labourers get
in my home village, but I come here
because I can depend on him to call me
whenever there is work. Unlike others,
he does not go looking for cheaper labour
from other villages.
My husband, Raman is also a
labourer. We don’t own any land.
During this time of the year he sprays
pesticides. When there is no work on
the farm he finds work outside, either
loading sand from the river or stone
from the quarry nearby. This is sent
by truck to be used in nearby towns to
make houses.
Apart from working on the land, I
do all the tasks at home. I cook food for
my family, clean the house and wash
clothes. I go with other women to the
nearby forest to collect firewood. About
one kilometre away we have a village
borewell from where I fetch water. My
husband helps in getting materials such
as groceries for the house.
Our school-going daughters are the
joy of our lives. Last year, one of them
fell ill and had to be taken to the hospital
in town. We had to sell our cow to pay
back the money we borrowed from
Ramalingam for her treatment.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Harvesting
Weeding
Transplanting
Preparing
saplings
December
Based on the above diagram would
you say that Thulasi earns money
throughout the year?
1. Describe the work that
Thulasi does. How is it
different from the work
Raman does?
2. Thulasi gets paid very little
money for the work she
does. Why do you think
agricultural labourers like
her are forced to accept low
wages?
3. In what ways would her way
of earning a living have been
different if Thulasi owned
some farm land? Discuss.
4. What are the crops grown in
your region or nearby rural
area? What kinds of work do
agricultural labourers do?
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 62 14-11-2022 04:32:54 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 5
UNIT - IV
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 59 14-11-2022 04:32:52 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
In the first chapter we looked at the many kinds of
diversity in our lives. We also explored how living in
different regions has an effect on the work people
do, the kinds of plants, trees, crops or things that
become important to them. In this chapter we will
look at the different ways in which people earn
their living in villages. And here too, as in the first
two chapters, we will examine whether people
have equal opportunities to earn a living. We will
look at the similarities in their life situations and
the problems that they face.
Chapter 7
Rural
Livelihoods
1. Describe the work that you see people doing in the above
pictures.
2. Identify the different types of work that are related to farming
and those that are not. List these in a table.
3. In your notebook draw some pictures of work that you have
seen people do in rural areas and write a few sentences that
describe the work
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 60 14-11-2022 04:32:52 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Rural Livelihoods / 61
morning and snacks like vadai, bonda
and mysorepak in the evening. Near
the teashops in a corner lives a
blacksmith family whose home serves
as their workshop. Next to their home
is a cycle hire and repair shop. Two
families earn a living by washing
clothes. There are some people
who go to the nearby town to work
as construction workers and lorry
drivers.
The village is surrounded by low
hills. Paddy is the main crop that
is grown in irrigated lands. Most of
the families earn a living through
agriculture.
Kalpattu village
K
alpattu is a village that’s close
to the sea coast in Tamil Nadu.
People here do many kinds of work.
As in other villages, here too there
is non-farm work such as making
baskets, utensils, pots, bricks,
bullock-carts etc.
There are people who provide
services such as blacksmiths, nurses,
teachers, washermen, weavers,
barbers, cycle repair mechanics and
so on. There are also some
shopkeepers and traders. In the main
street, which looks like a bazaar, you
Transplanting paddy is back-breaking work.
will find a variety of small shops such
as tea shops, grocery shops, barber
shops, a cloth shop, a tailor and
two fertiliser and seed shops. There
are four teashops, which sell tiffin –
such as idli, dosai and upama in the
There are some
coconut groves around.
Cotton, sugar cane and
plantain are also grown,
and there are mango
orchards. Let us now
meet some people who
work in the fields in
Kalpattu and see what
we can learn about
farming from them.
Thulasi
All of us here work on
Ramalingam’s land.
He has twenty acres
of paddy fields in
Kalpattu. Even before I was married
I used to work on paddy fields in my
parental village. I work from 8.30 in
the morning till 4.30 in the evening
and Karuthamma, Ramalingam’s wife,
supervises us.
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 61 14-11-2022 04:32:54 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
62 / Social and Political Life
This is one of the few times in the
year that I find regular work. Now I
am transplanting the paddy, when the
plants have grown a bit Ramalingam
will call us again for weeding and then
finally once again for the harvesting.
When I was young I could do this
work with no difficulty. But now as I
grow older I find bending for long
hours with my feet in water very painful.
Ramalingam pays Rs 40 per day. This
is a little less than what labourers get
in my home village, but I come here
because I can depend on him to call me
whenever there is work. Unlike others,
he does not go looking for cheaper labour
from other villages.
My husband, Raman is also a
labourer. We don’t own any land.
During this time of the year he sprays
pesticides. When there is no work on
the farm he finds work outside, either
loading sand from the river or stone
from the quarry nearby. This is sent
by truck to be used in nearby towns to
make houses.
Apart from working on the land, I
do all the tasks at home. I cook food for
my family, clean the house and wash
clothes. I go with other women to the
nearby forest to collect firewood. About
one kilometre away we have a village
borewell from where I fetch water. My
husband helps in getting materials such
as groceries for the house.
Our school-going daughters are the
joy of our lives. Last year, one of them
fell ill and had to be taken to the hospital
in town. We had to sell our cow to pay
back the money we borrowed from
Ramalingam for her treatment.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
Harvesting
Weeding
Transplanting
Preparing
saplings
December
Based on the above diagram would
you say that Thulasi earns money
throughout the year?
1. Describe the work that
Thulasi does. How is it
different from the work
Raman does?
2. Thulasi gets paid very little
money for the work she
does. Why do you think
agricultural labourers like
her are forced to accept low
wages?
3. In what ways would her way
of earning a living have been
different if Thulasi owned
some farm land? Discuss.
4. What are the crops grown in
your region or nearby rural
area? What kinds of work do
agricultural labourers do?
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 62 14-11-2022 04:32:54 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
Rural Livelihoods / 63
As you saw in Thulasi’s story poor
families in rural areas often spend a
lot of time every day collecting
firewood, getting water and grazing
their cattle.
Even though they do not earn any
money from these activities they have
to do them for the household. The
family needs to spend time doing this
as they are not able to survive on the
little money they earn.
Nearly two-fifth of all rural families
are agricultural labourers in our
country. There are some who have
small plots of land while others like
Thulasi are landless.
Not being able to earn money
throughout the year forces people
in many rural areas to travel long
distances in search of work. This
travel, or migration, takes place during
particular seasons.
Sekar
We have to carry this paddy to our
house. My family has just finished
harvesting our field. We don’t own
much land, only two acres. We manage
to do all the work on our own. At
times, especially during the harvest I
take the help of other small farmers
and in turn help them harvest their
field.
The trader gave me seeds and
fertilisers as a loan. To pay back this
loan I have to sell my paddy to him at
a somewhat lower price than what I
would get in the market. He has sent
his agent to remind farmers who have
taken loans that they will sell the paddy
only to him.
I will probably get 60 bags of paddy
from my field. Some of this I will sell to
settle the loan. The rest will be used in
my home. But whatever I have will last
only eight months. So I need to earn
some money. I work in Ramalingam’s
rice mill. Here I help him collect paddy
from other farmers in the neighbouring
villages.
We also have a hybrid cow, whose
milk we sell in the local milk cooperative.
This way we get a little extra money for
our everyday needs.
On being in Debt
As you’ve read above, very often
farmers like Sekar need to borrow
money to purchase basic things
like seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.
Often they borrow this money from
moneylenders. If the seeds are not of
good quality or pests attack their crop
there can be a major crop failure.
Unit_IV Ch 7.indd 63 14-11-2022 04:32:54 PM
Rationalised 2023-24
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