Ranju Dodum
Itanagar, Feb 3: A study on time spent on employment-related activities in India has revealed that Arunachal Pradesh and other Northeastern states report significantly shorter work hours compared to the national average.
The analysis, based on the Time Use Survey 2019 conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, provides a detailed understanding of work culture across states and sectors.
The report, authored by a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, Shamika Ravi, highlights that individuals in Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring states such as Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya spend less than six hours per day on paid economic activities. This is below the national average of 7.8 hours per day in urban areas and 6.65 hours in rural areas.
The study also finds that individuals in states such as Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli work the longest, exceeding ten hours per day, while those in Goa report work durations similar to north-eastern states.
The report points to stark differences across economic sectors, as well.
In Arunachal Pradesh, individuals engaged in the primary sector, including agriculture and forestry, report shorter work hours compared to the national average.
Similarly, those in the secondary and tertiary sectors also work fewer hours, reflecting limited industrialization and service sector opportunities in the region.
The study contrasts these findings with states like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, where individuals in the tertiary sector work significantly longer hours. The analysis underscores the need for economic diversification in the Northeast to enhance workforce participation and productivity.
Women in Arunachal Pradesh, like their counterparts across India, spend considerably less time on paid economic activities compared to men. The gender disparity in work hours is more pronounced in urban areas, where women work approximately two hours less per day. Across the country, Scheduled Tribes also report lower average work hours compared to other social groups.
The report also draws attention to the association between work hours and economic output. States with longer average work hours, such as Gujarat, report higher per capita Net State Domestic Product (NSDP).
Conversely, shorter work hours in Arunachal Pradesh and other north-eastern states are linked to lower economic output.
The analysis estimates that a one percent increase in time spent on employment-related activities could result in a 1.7 percent rise in per capita NSDP. The relationship is stronger in larger states, where a similar increase in work hours corresponds to a 3.7 percent growth in economic output.
The findings suggest that states could benefit from initiatives aimed at increasing workforce participation, particularly in the secondary and tertiary sectors.
Policies that support skill development, industrial growth, and gender equality could help bridge the gap between Arunachal Pradesh and the rest of the country.
While the report emphasizes the potential economic benefits of increasing work hours, it also highlights the importance of accounting for the cultural and socio-economic context of the north-eastern states to ensure sustainable growth.