Indian Society (Social Processes of change: Globalization, Industrialisation, and Urbanisation) by Smriti Rao Mishra

Model Answer

Question #1. Examine the main socio-economic implications of job automation on lower and middle class. 10 marks (150 words)

Approach 

Question talks about the job automation. It talks impact of job automation on the lower and middle class people. 
Introduce by defining the Job automation. 

Then, mention the positive impacts of job automation on the middle and lower class. Subsequently, also mention about the negative impacts of job automation on the middle and lower class of the society. 
Conclude by mentioning way forward.

Hints

Job automation refers to the use of technology and machines to perform tasks that were previously done by humans. With advances in technology, more and more tasks that were once performed by human workers can now be done by machines, robots, or artificial intelligence (AI). This includes tasks such as manufacturing, data entry, customer service, and even some types of medical care.

Positive implications of the Job automation 

Increased productivity: Automation can increase productivity by performing tasks more efficiently and accurately than humans.For Example, Industrial Robots can manufacture higher volumes in a shorter time period. Automated processes can work 24/7 with no fatiguewithout sacrificing quality or quantity. This enhances productivity of companies.

Improved working conditions: Automation can lead to improved working conditions for human workers.For example, the use of automation in the construction industry can reduce the need for manual labor and improve safety conditions for workers.

Performing Menial work: Technology can perform the menial works like cleaning septic tanks, which resulted into deaths of the lower castes. For Example, The IIT Madras has developed a robot that can clean septic tanks without the need for humans.

Reduced prices and increased consumer purchasing power: Automation can lead to lower costs for goods and services, which can reduce prices and increase consumer purchasing power. For example, the use of automation in the retail industry has led to lower prices for consumers.

Opportunities for new industries and jobs: Automation can create new industries and jobs. For example, the rise of automation has led to the growth of the robotics industry, which has created new jobs in research and development, manufacturing, and maintenance.

Negative implications of the Job automation
Job loss: Job automation may lead to increased unemployment among the masses and work performed by the man is done by machines. For example, the rise of e-commerce has led to the closure of many traditional brick-and-mortar retail stores, leading to job loss for workers in the retail industry.

Social inequality: Technology has also led to increased concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a small group of individuals and corporations. This can lead to a decline in democracy and an increase in social inequality.
For example, the rise of large technology companies such as Amazon, Google, and Facebook has led to concerns about the concentration of wealth and power in the tech industry.

Skill mismatch: According to a report by the National Bureau of Economic Research, automation has led to a decline in demand for routine cognitive and manual skills, while increasing demand for non-routine cognitive and social skills.For example, the automation of truck driving jobs may require workers to acquire new skills in data analysis, programming, and maintenance of autonomous vehicles.

Ethical concerns: The adoption of automation raises ethical concerns around issues such as privacy, surveillance, and accountability, which may affect lower and middle class. For example, the use of Face recognition technology may perpetuate biases and may perpetrate mass surveillance.
Addressing the negative socio-economic impacts of job automation on lower and middle-class workers will require a multi-faceted approach involving policymakers, businesses, and workers. Policymakers and businesses can invest in job training and education programs to help workers acquire the skills needed to remain employable.

Question #2. The low rate of female participation in labour force indicates that the challenges to growth and development of the country aresocio-economic in nature.Comment. 15 marks (250 words)

Approach

The central theme of the question is to comment on low participation of women in labour force and how this reflects that the real challenge to growth and development are socioeconomic in nature. 
Introduce with recent data pointing towards low labour force participation.

Dig out the reasons for same connecting it with socio economic causes, Link these causes as having derailing impact on growth and development. 
Conclude in an optimistic way along with possible suggestions. 

Hints
According to IMF, India's income will go up by 27% with participation of women in good numbers. However in India the female participation in labour force is mere 25%. This is the number we are witnessing after 7 decade of independence. Such low percentages also impacts socio economic and developmental progress. 
Reasons for Low female labour force participation

The problem of lower participation is not only with policy making or implementation but it pertains to lower opportunities in labour market along with societal factors including glass ceiling and security issues. Further there is an issue of patriarchal bargaining which inhibits grabbing of opportunities. 

The decision of and ability for women to participate in the labour force is the outcome of various economic and social factors that interact in a complex fashion at both the household and macro level. The falling trends revealed key factors like rising educational enrolment of young women, lack of employment opportunities and effect of household income on participation. 

The nature of economic growth- in the country has meant that jobs were not created in large numbers in sectors that could readily absorb women, especially for those in rural areas. Despite inadequate job creation, household incomes did rise, which potentially reduced women’s participation, especially in subsidiary activities (“income effect”) due to change in preferences. Further labour rules and working hours too acts as hindrances. 

Societal determinants- Educational attainment, fertility rates and the age of marriage, economic growth/cyclical effects, and urbanization. In addition to these issues, social norms determining the role of women in the public domain continue to affect outcomes.

Rural urban divide- most of female labour force works in agriculture fields but also in unorganized or informal works. Further in urban areasa large chunk of women works in small scale or unorganized sector which hides their participation rates.
How lower participation driven by socio-economic factors derails and acted as challenge to growth and development:

There is an intrinsic relationship- between socio- economic factors like education and training programs, skills development, and access to child care, maternity protection, and provision of safe and accessible transport, along with the promotion of a pattern of growth that creates job opportunities. 

Women labour participation indicates- that their participation will help in not only economic benefits but also percolate towards improving socio- development indicators like nutrition, health, sanitation and child health. It will further help in fight against malnutrition. 

Health and nutrition-We can trace the prevalent nutrition issues in child, women health to their lower participation in work force as they are not having income and most discrimination they face is due to their low bargain capacity and power and economic participation. 

There are lower avenues of employment opportunities-for women in different fields. Their participation in Science, technology engineering and Maths (STEM) is very low. STEM offers higher remuneration which also have linkage with growth and development. But owing to lower levels of educational attainment and social mobilization this is not working well for employment of women. 

However all is not gloomy as The Labour Force Participation Rate for males has gone up to 57.5% in 2020-21, as compared to 55.6% in 2018-19. Female Labour Force Participation Rate has gone up to 25.1% in 2020-21 from 18.6% in 2018-19. There is a notable rise in Rural Female Labour Force Participation Rate from 19.7 % in 2018-19 to 27.7% in 2020-21. The lower female participation in labour force is driven by inhibitions caused socio economic factors and in turn it affects the outcomes of growth and development.