Trends and Pattern of Female Work Participation in Non - Agricultural Activities and Levels of Development in India

Female work participation (FWP) is an essential indicator of women's economic empowerment and is also reflected in women's society at home and beyond. For the balanced development of a country or region, the talent and potential of every citizen, regardless of sex, region or caste, is essential. As per the 2011 census, compared to the 14.68 reported in the 2001 Census, the proportion of major female workers in the overall female population stood at 25.5 percent. The percentage of women employed in the household industry and other workers, respectively, were at 2.95 and 47.20 at the All -India level. Such a result is a significant concern to all the stakeholders of the state, especially the policymakers. The present paper, therefore, attempts to analyze the trends and patterns of Female work participation in Non -agricultural activities since 1981. Moreover, an attempt has also been made to identify the relationship between a selected development variable of development among the states of India. The state has been taken as the smallest unit of the study. The study utilizes published data obtained from the Census of India and other statistical records at the state level. Some standard statistical techniques are used in the present study. The general picture that emerged from this discussion is a gradual increase of female workers in the non -agricultural sector from the north -central to south -eastern parts of the country.