India - Common Property Resources, Sanitation Hygiene Services: NSS 54th Round, Schedule 31, January 1998 - June 1998

“Commuting” will be understood to mean travelling from residence to place of work or educational institution and back on the same day. “Work” here normally refers to economic activity but unpaid work such as services provided free (without pay) at institutions such as charitable homes, voluntary organisations, etc. will also be covered if performed regularly. “Educational institution” includes schools, colleges and institutions of higher educations, centres of adult education, and “pre-schools” (that is, pre-primary schools). For persons living in rural areas, movement to or from work or educational institution within the village of their residence will not be considered as commuting.

(i) The movement of peddlers who move from place to place peddling their wares will not be treated as commuting. However, their journeys from residence to the area of peddling chosen by them (say, a busy crossing or railway station) and back will be regarded as commuting. If the residence of a peddler falls within the area where he operates, he will not be considered as a commuter.
(ii) Escorting children to and from school will not be treated as commuting.

“Mode” here refers to the mode of transport normally used for commuting. “On foot” is also included as a possible mode. A person may regularly travel to place of work/ education partly by one by one kind of vehicle and lastly by another (e.g. bicycle and train, rickshaw and bus, etc.). In such a case, the vehicle by which the longer part of the journey (distance-wise) is covered will be considered as the major mode, and the vehicle by which the shorter distance covered will be considered as the minor mode. The “ minor mode” entry is not compulsory,