Mgnregs: A study of economic empowerment effects on women in District Doda

The present paper studied the economic empowerment effects of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) on rural women in district Doda. Furthermore, it also aimed to develop economic empowerment index. A total of 360 beneficiaries were selected through stratified random sampling technique. Results revealed that women workers have benefited from the programme primarily because of the paid employment opportunity have been visualized and benefits have acquired through an increase in income and expenditure, enhancement of choice and capability, Improvement in Living Standard and Satisfaction and Increase in Savings and Investment Activities etc But MGNREGS is not free from various limitations. The poor implementation of MGNREGS in district Doda (such as lack of worksite facilities, low level of awareness among the beneficiaries, delayed payments and delayed employment) affected the poor particularly the marginalised section of society. Various initiatives and changes should be taken to remove the impediments in the proper implementation of Scheme.