Industrial Workers in a Developing Society

The behavioural approach to industrial sociology through survey research gained new impetus in India during past two decades. The behaviouralist have shifted their attention from prescription, ethical enquiry and action to description, explanation and verification. The present work offers an analytical interpretation of evolving socio-economic and socio-political behaviour of industrial workers, especially the jute workers in a developing society. The study is primarily a descriptive one highlighting certain aspects of economic as well as political behaviour and social attitude of a sample of jute workers. The secondary aim is however an explanatory one viz to analyse how far their attitude can best be explained. The study is based on empirical evidence and sociological method of analysis. Jute industry is one of the oldest industries in India. It still occupies a very significant place in the Industrial profile of West Bengal and export expectrum of the Indian economy as well. The present study selects Kinnison Jute Mill of Barrackpur sub-division as the unit of analysis. The authoress collected 6% samples of all permanent workers employed in the Mill through random sampling method and held interviews with 310 workers. She herself has stated the basic objects of her study as under: (i) To Illustrate social profile of jute workers and their level of job satisfaction, trade union activities and political involvement. (ii) To highlight workers’ attitude towards some modern social concepts as well as legitimacy and efficiency of democratic political system operating in India; and (iii) To ilucidate inter-relations among job satisfaction’s, trade union and political involvement, level of modernization and to anlyse how far their economic and political behaviour, social attitude and political opinions can best be explained and understood. The study is based on the accumulated knowledge that flows from diverse sources. This unique book which embodies the results of the fruitful study made by the authoress of the behavioural approach of industrial workers, specially jute workers will prove extremely useful not only to students and research scholars but also to the administrators, planners and industrial and management executives both in the private as well public sector.