Question

Seasonal migrant workers have been termed as:

• A. Begar
• B. Peasants
• C. Footloose Labourers
• D. Farmers

Hint:

“Footloose Labourers” are labourers who migrate frequently in search of temporary work and are not permanently attached to one employer or region.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: Seasonal migration refers to the temporary movement of workers from one region to another in search of employment during particular seasons. Such workers generally:
• Move frequently from place to place
• Lack permanent employment security
• Work mainly in agriculture, construction, brick kilns, or informal sectors
• Return home after seasonal work ends In sociology and labour studies, these mobile labourers are commonly called Footloose Labourers.

Step 1: Understanding the meaning of “Footloose Labourers”
The term “footloose labourers” refers to workers who:
• Are not permanently tied to one employer or one place
• Move according to employment opportunities
• Work under insecure and temporary conditions Seasonal migrant workers perfectly fit this description because they migrate according to agricultural or industrial demand.

Step 2: Examining the other options
Option (A): Begar
Begar refers to:
• Forced unpaid labour
• Labour extracted without wages This does not describe seasonal migration. Hence, Option (A) is incorrect. Option (B): Peasants
Peasants are small agricultural cultivators or farmers. Seasonal migrant workers may or may not be peasants, so this term is not appropriate. Hence, Option (B) is incorrect. Option (D): Farmers
Farmers are land cultivators. Seasonal migrant workers are primarily wage labourers rather than land-owning farmers. Hence, Option (D) is incorrect.

Step 3: Identifying the correct term
The sociological term specifically used for highly mobile temporary labourers is: \[ \boxed{\text{Footloose Labourers}} \] Therefore, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{(3)} \]