Impact of MGNREGA on gender and social empowerment

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the flagship rural employment scheme of the Government of India was launched in February 2006. It is the largest and most ambitious social security and public works program. The objective of this paper is to examine women's participation in MGNREGA and has provided few suggestions for its efficient working.

Seven years after its implementation, the basic principles and high potential of the MGNREGA are well established. The fact that about one-fourth (25%) of all rural households in the country participate in the program every year, is testimony to its resounding popularity. With a national participation rate of 47%, evidence suggest that women are participating in the scheme more actively than in other works. Research also indicates that MGNREGA is an important work opportunity for women who would have otherwise remains unemployed or underemployed. Preliminary findings suggest that the increased access to paid work due to MGNREGA has had a positive impact on women's socio-economic status and general well-being. Findings from different studies also observe that post MGNREGA, women have greater control over their wages and have been spending them on repaying small debts, paying for their children's schooling and bearing medical expenses, etc. Mobilization of women through community based organizations has improved outreach and generated awareness, and contributed to increasing participation of women in all aspects of the Scheme. Women rely heavily on natural common property resources like water, fuel, etc., and since MGNREGA plays an important role in natural resources regeneration, the Scheme seems to be strengthening livelihood security for women.

This present paper shows that the women participation in MGNREGA is very low because of social barriers and mostly alternative jobs available for women in the state of Uttaranchal and very high in the state of Gujarat. The paper first presents the percentage participation of women to total employment in each state during the financial years of 2010–11 to 2013 under MGNREGA. The paper is based on the secondary data collected from Ministry of Rural Development (GoI) and NREGA implementation status.