The correct option is Limited opportunities and mobility restrict access to the secondary and service sectors.
Explanation
The high concentration of the female workforce in the primary sector (agriculture and allied activities) is a phenomenon often referred to as the feminization of agriculture. This trend is driven by structural economic factors, social norms, and labour market dynamics rather than legal mandates or wage incentives.Analysis of Options
- Women are legally restricted from working in the secondary sector is Incorrect: There are no legal restrictions preventing women from working in the secondary (manufacturing) or tertiary (services) sectors. The Constitution of India ensures equality of opportunity in public employment and prohibits discrimination based on gender.
- The primary sector offers higher wages than other sectors is Incorrect: The primary sector typically offers lower wages and suffers from lower productivity compared to the secondary and service sectors. Women often work in this sector as unpaid family labour or low-wage agricultural labourers, not because it is more remunerative.
- Limited opportunities and mobility restrict access to the secondary and service sectors is Correct: Women in India face significant structural barriers, including limited mobility due to domestic responsibilities and patriarchal norms. Furthermore, a lack of access to education and skill development restricts their entry into the formal secondary and service sectors. As a result, they are often confined to locally available agricultural work.
- Women prefer the primary sector due to its formal nature is Incorrect: The primary sector in India is overwhelmingly informal, characterized by a lack of job security, social benefits, and regular income. Women do not prefer it for its "formal nature"; rather, they are often pushed into it due to the lack of alternative opportunities (distress employment).
Key Takeaway:
The concentration of women in the primary sector is primarily caused by socio-economic constraints, such as limited mobility, lack of marketable skills, and domestic obligations, which restrict access to non-farm employment.