Women in MGNREGS

Context: As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Women participation in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) was the highest in 10 financial years.

Women participation in MGNREGS:

• The rates of participation of women in the MGNREGS, defined as women person-days out of the total in percentage.
• The proportion of women person-days in the total touching 59.25% in 2023-24, 57.47% in 2022-23 and 54.82% in 2021-22. 
• The lowest percentage of women participation in the NREGS over the last 10 financial years was recorded in 2020-21 at 53.19%. 
• The southern states like Kerala (89%), Tamil Nadu (86%), Puducherry (87.16%) and Goa (72%) have recorded women participation rate of over 70%, it has been hovering around 40% or below in northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh over the years.
• In 2023-24, 5 states/UTs with the lowest women participation rate under NREGS are: UTs of Jammu and Kashmir (30.47%) and Lakshadweep (38.24%), Uttar Pradesh (42.39%), Madhya Pradesh (42.50%) and Maharashtra (43.76%). 
• In rural areas, the female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), increased to 30.5% in 2022-23 from 18.2% in 2017-18. 

Impact of MGNREGA on Women Empowerment

• Economic Independence: It has provided women in rural areas with opportunities for wage employment, that contributed to their economic independence as MGNREGA provides at least 100 days of wage employment.
• Reduced Gender Wage Gap: It mandates equal wages for men and women for the same work, helped in reducing the gender wage gap and promoting equity in income distribution.
• Social Empowerment: Women have gained visibility and recognition in their communities, increased social standing can contribute to a positive shift in societal attitudes towards the role and capabilities of women.
• Health Benefits and Skill Development: Income generated through MGNREGA can be invested in improving the health and education of women and their families.
• Reduction in Distress Migration: It has helped in mitigating distress migration by providing employment opportunities locally. This is particularly significant for women who may have been left behind in rural areas while male family members migrate in search of work.

Reason for low participation of women in several states: 

• Absence of safe transportation facilities :The distance between work sites and women's homes can be a deterrent, especially in the absence of reliable and safe transportation facilities.
• Lack of Childcare Support: The absence of childcare facilities at work sites may pose a challenge for women with young children, making it difficult for them to participate.
• Lower Wage Rates: MNREGA wage rates (set by centre) of at least 17 of the 21 major states are even lower than the state minimum wage for agriculture, discouraging women from participating in the scheme.
• Delayed payment of wages: Delayed payment of wages, particularly for women who may face financial constraints.
• Socio-cultural Norms: Deep-rooted gender norms and stereotypes in certain regions may limit women's mobility. Further,  Women often have significant domestic responsibilities, which can limit their ability to participate in MGNREGA. These may include childcare, eldercare, and household chores that are traditionally ascribed to women​.
• Safety Concerns: Concerns about safety and harassment at work sites can deter women from participating.
• Health Issues: Health-related constraints like being Anaemic  can also impact women's ability to engage in labour-intensive work typically offered under MNREGA.

Suggestive measures to ensure high participation of women in MGNREGS: 

• Recommendations given by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj: 
  • The long-standing demand for increasing wages must be address through suitable linkage to the inflation index.
  • The committee has suggested that the government must take measures for better promotion of “women-centric works” through creation or linking of existing livelihood projects under the scheme.
  • Ministry of Rural Development needs to bridge the wage disparity among states by notifying a uniform wage rate structure.
  • It recommended increasing the guaranteed days of work under the scheme from 100 to 150 days to deal with exigencies arising from natural calamities.