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A Study of Women Participation in MGNREGA in Himachal Pradesh
Prof. S.L.Kaushal
Mr Balbir Singh
ABSTRACT
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is becoming a
milestone in empowering women. MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee of 100 days of
wage employment in a financial year to volunteer household adults by ensuring at least 33%
women workers. It has vital potential to check discrimination and disparities might it be
economic or gender based. The gamut of the present paper is to explore the impact of
MGNREGA on economic empowerment of women in rural India in general and Himachal
Pradesh in particular. From the findings, it is clear that in India, the share of women
participation in MGNREGA work has increased to 50.24% in 2014-15 as compared to
47.07% in FY 2012-13. Among states, Tamilnadu is the leading state in the country where
women have generated 3086.82 lakh persondays in 2013-14 followed by Andhra Pradesh
1756.56 lakh persondays and Rajasthan 1245.75 lakh persondays. In Himachal Pradesh, the
share of women worker has been 58.09% in MGNREGA in 2014-15 and 176.60 lakh
persondays generated in 2013-14 which was 118.8 lakh in 2011-12. The data revealed that
Mandi district has generated the highest persondays in the last three years followed by district
Kangra. In a nutshell, we can say that both at national and state levels, women participation
in MGNREGA is increasing with the passage of time and they are sharing financial burden
with men in shouldering family responsibilities.
Key Words: Women Participation, Empowerment, Gender Equality.
________________________________________________________________________
S.L.Kaushal, Professor, Himachal Pradesh University Business School, Summerhill, Shimla,
(H.P)-171005, E-mail: kaushal.shyam@gmail.com
Balbir Singh, Research Scholar (SRF), Himachal Pradesh University Business School,
Summerhill, Shimla, (H.P)-171005, E-mail: balbirmangta@gmail.com, Mob: 9816201880
1. Introduction:
Gandhi ji once said, “In a country like India women are the part and parcel of the vast
Indian society. They should be alerted with proper education and also they should be
entrusted with all sorts of jobs as per their physical ability.”
According to the United Nations Millennium Campaign the overwhelming majority of
the labour that sustains life-growing food, cooking, raising children, caring for the elderly,
maintaining a house, hauling water – is done by women and universally this work is accorded
low status and no pay. The role of women in protecting the family members from hunger and
poverty had been highlighted by Rosi Braidotti (1994)1 and Caroline Moser (1989)2
According to them, in 1980s, the international economic conditions and debt crisis led to
increasing poverty among people in the south which was termed as “feminization of
poverty”. An increasing number of women became providers of family subsistence, while
men often migrated in search of employment. In many societies around the world, women
never belong wholly to themselves; they are the property of others throughout their lives.
Their physical well-being – health, security and bodily integrity – is often beyond their own
control. Where women have no control over money, they cannot choose to get health care for
themselves or their children.
No one knows that how many women work in domestic services in India. Official
figures suggest 5 million. A study assesses the number at 40 million and the international
labour office (ILO) recons it somewhere between 20 and 80 million. If it is true than it
indicates that up to ten percent of the female population above 12 years of age are employed
in domestic services. There has never been a systematic count, although it is the second
largest employer of women after agriculture labour. Invisible, unregulated, poorly paid, even
a definition of domestic servant proves elusive and contradictory. Helpless girls from the
tribal regions are especially in demand. They are simple, innocent and crucially without a
support structure. So abuse is rarely reported. Often the parents have no idea where the girls
have been taken by agencies and, being illiterate, they are open to all sorts of exploitations. A
survey in Mumbai two years back found nearly 60000 girls (age between 5-14) employed as
domestic workers.3
1.1. Women Empowerment:
Women comprise almost half of the population so without their upliftment and
progress, there cannot be true development in the world. It is also obvious that greater gender
inequality undermines the process of economic development of the developing and the
underdeveloped countries. So it is dire need for equality and empowerment of women in the
society. Women empowerment is a multi-faceted concept involving varied dimensions such
as political, social, economic, legal and cultural etc.4 Women empowerment has been
emphasized since the ninth Five Year Plan. The social development and women-centric
initiatives have made some dent in reducing the gender imbalances at the household and
community levels. As most of the rural (poor) women earn their livelihoods largely from
agriculture and allied activities as workers, the gainful employment opportunities from this
sector and improvements in labour market functioning are expected to enhance the socio-
economic status of women. But rise in unemployment and underemployment of rural women
is cause of concern. The gender disparities prevailing in our rural society have been adversely
affecting the quality of life of rural women. The launching of gender sensitive, demand-led
and massive wage employment programme i.e., MGNREGA has the potential to correct the
anomalies in labour market functioning as also the gender based discrimination.
The term “women empowerment” essentially means that the women have the power
or capacity to regulate their day- to- day lives in the social, political and economic terms -a
power which enables them to move from the periphery to the centre stage. When women
have economic empowerment, others see them as equal members of society. Through this,
they achieve more self-respect and confidence by their contributions to their communities.
When women have the capacity of doing what she wants, a higher equality between men and
women is established. The national commission for women was set up by an Act of
parliament in 1990 to safeguard the rights and legal entitlements of women. The 73rd and 74th
Amendment (1993) to the constitution of India have provided for reservation of seats in the
local bodies of Panchayats and Municipalities for women, laying a strong foundation for their
participation in decision making at the local level.
The Constitution of India guarantees to all Indian women equality (Article 14), no
discrimination by the State (Article 15(1)), equality of opportunity (Article 16), and equal pay
for equal work (Article 39(d)). Women today are demanding their position in the society.
Women have become much aware of sexual inequalities in every sphere of existence and are
in search of ways to battle them. In view to achive this women empowerment various
initiatives and policies have been launched from time to time, among them MGNREGA is
one of them.
1.2. MGNREGA Inception:
In an era of growing globalization and rising inequality, the Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) stands out as a unique attempt to
provide a social safety net via a massive public works programme. The MGNREGA is a
scheme in post-independence period of our country which raised hopes in the minds of poor
and unemployed people to earn something. It is one of the most ambitious schemes launched
by India on 2nd February, 2006 in 200 poorest districts of the country, which mandate to
provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to every rural household in a
financial year whose adult member volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The Act was
notified in 200 rural districts in its first phase of implementation w.e.f. 2nd February 2006. In
financial year 2007-08, it was extended to an additional 130 districts. The remaining districts
were notified under MGNREGA w.e.f. 1st April 2008. Presently MGNREGA is working in
entire rural area of the country which covers 28 states, 7 union territories, 619 districts, 6096
villages and 2.65 lakh gram Panchayats. The data indicated that MGNREGA has been
scattered throughout the country and showing good results and the fact is that now it has
become the world’s largest employment generation scheme. It is pertinent to mention that one
of the major goals of MGNREGA has been to target the weaker sections, including women.
So the present paper is an attempt to assess the access and impact of MGNREGA on status of
women.
2. Objectives and Methodology:
To examine the participation of women in MGNREGA in India in general and H.P. in
particular.
In light of the objectives, the secondary data has been collected from the official
website of government, MGNREGA related books, articles published in reputed newspapers,
magazines and journals and official reports. An attempt has been made to analyse the trend
in terms of persondays generated, % women share, with the help of percentage method.
3.1. Women Empowerment and MGNREGA- Literature Review:
Empowerment of women is closely linked to the opportunities they have in education,
health and economic and political participation. Government has been operationalizing this
approach through legislative and programmatic interventions as well as by mainstreaming
gender into the developing planning process. As part of economic participation, MGNREGA
is vital in its importance. It is to be noted that MGNREGA is not designed with the objective
of promoting gender equality. As far as women’s role in MGNREGA is concerned, it offers
33 percent employment to women, guarantees child care facility at the worksite and provides
scope to participate in planning and implementation of MGNREGA and in conducting social
audit as members of Gram Sabha and of Gram Panchayat.5 In fact, a large number of studies
have shown that women have benefited under MGNREGA in many ways (Khera and Nayak
2009, Datar 2008, Pankaj and Tankha 2010, Sudarshan 2009, Hanumantha Rao 2008). These
studies have shown that women have participated in MGNREGA on a large scale in most
states in India and received equal wages as men and earned incomes of their own. Single
women households or female –headed households have particularly benefited by MGNREGA
as it provided them minimum incomes and food security and they are now participating in
decision making as well.
In the area of economic empowerment, there is no doubt that MGNREGA has made
dramatic changes in the economic status of women in the village. It has provided
employment to women in more than half the households in the village at a wage rate that is
much higher than the prevailing wage rate in the local economy. About 64 percent of
MGNREGA workers were full time housewives before MGNREGA came into force, and the
remaining women were employed in scattered casual work in agriculture (mainly weeding,
transplanting and harvesting paddy) and in other manual work. About 80 percent of women
working under MGNREGA and consequently having their own bank account, and have direct
control over their earning and moreover, have started to move freely in society and taking
their decision.6
The survey data suggests that women workers are more confident about their roles as
contribution to family expenditure and their work decision; they are also becoming more
assertive about their space in the public sphere. The significant contribution of MGNREGA is
that it has removed these constraints as the wage employment was made available within or
closer to the village. It has provided them with an opportunity to earn and forgo their other
familiar obligations. Examining the response from widows separately, MGNREGA was also
considered very important scheme as more than two third 69% of the sample workers stated
that MGNREGA helped them to avoid hunger, while 57% stated that MGNREGA helped
them avoid migration and equal proportion of workers also said they used MGNREGA wages
to buy medicines in the last 12 months.7 According to Thomes, EM. (2005)8 all the women
workers are fully satisfied with MGNREGA works. The main reason for their satisfaction is
that; today they are assured of 100 days of jobs. It means that no longer they need to fear
regarding the occurrence of seasonal unemployment and poverty. Likewise all of them
unanimously opine that, the MGNREGA enabled them to participate effectively in the civil
society. Now, they have no fear in entering a commercial bank or government office to hold
discussions with the officials. The overall impact of MGNREGA on women’s life is quite
positive in many ways, whether it is by enhancing their economic independence and self-
confidence, contributing to food security, helping to reduce distress migration, or fostering
better awareness (and wider enforcement) of minimum wages. The role of MGNREGA as a
tool of women’s empowerment deserves much more attention than it has received so far.
Account payment of wages also creates some other effects. Apart from increasing the
changes for greater control over earnings, it leads to the development of a saving habit.
Initially, most of these workers used to withdraw their entire wages at one go. Gradually, they
have started withdrawing as per their needs. This has added to advantages as women are able
to save money from wasteful expenditure, if husbands or other male members tend to spend
on items like liquor. Women were also found to invest in fixed deposit schemes in the same
bank.9
Richard Mahapatra (2010) mentions that unique features of the public wage
programme turned it into a magnet for women. More women than men work under the
national programme that guarantees to rural people. Their participation has been growing
since the inception of MGNREGA in 2006. In Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, history of
women mobilization for schemes and campaigns for social audits, in which women play a
major role, has contributed to enhanced awareness and increased participation under
MGNREGA. The State’s MGNREGA worksites have good facilities for children and
women. In Kerala, management of worksites and other logistics for implementation is placed
in the hands of women self-help groups under the poverty eradication mission,
Kudumbasree.10 This study entitled, “socio-economic impacts of implementation of
MGNREGA” by council for social development, 2010, noted an increase in the frequency of
gram sabha meeting in most of the places in the post MGNREGA situation. There has been a
significant improvement in the participation of women in almost all the places.11
Pankaj and Tanka (2010) examined the facts of MGNREGA on rural women
empowerment in Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. They found that women
workers have gained from this scheme primarily because of paid employment opportunities
and benefits have been realized through income-consumption effects, household effects and
the enhancement of choice and capability. A study conducted by the “National Federation of
Indian Women (2008)” on “socio-economic empowerment of women under MGNREGA” in
selected districts of Chhattisgatrh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Tamilnadu that there was
enhanced women’s identity and empowerment as MGNREGA provided an economic
opportunity. Respondents in all the states have been found to be very optimistic about the
importance of MGNREGA in their lives. Another aspect of understanding MGNREGA is the
grooving contribution of women workers to the sources of their household’s livelihood. The
study reveals that in spite of all the grey areas in the implementation of MGNREGA, a silent
revolution is taking place in rural India with respect to women in disguise.12 MGNREGA is
one of the most progressive legislation enacted since independence. It is the first ever law
internationally, that guarantees wage employment at unprecedented scale. The primary
objectives of the Act are augmenting wage employment. In a country where labour is the only
economic asset, the provision of gainful employment for millions of people is a pre requisite
for the fulfilment of other basic right, right to life, right to food and the right to education.
Another study reveals that women on an average spend four hours per day to fetch water,
walk 7 km/day to gather fuel and majority of their remaining time in cooking and looking
after children.
3.2. Women Participation in MGNREGA in India- Changing Scenario:
MGNREGA plays a significant role to meet the practical as well as strategic needs of
women’s participation. There are various factors which encourage the women worker’s
participation under this scheme. Some of them are like nature of work, limited hours of work,
availability of work locally with in the radios of 5 kilometres and substantial jump in the
wage rate etc. Participation of women varies widely across States. Women workforce
participation under the Scheme has surpassed the statutory minimum requirement of 33
percent. At the national level women participation has increased significantly to 54.76% in
2014- 15 as compared to 52.8 in FY2013-14 and 51.3 in FY 2012-13. The Act stipulates that
priority shall be given to women. In terms of implementation it mandates that a minimum of
one-third of the beneficiaries are women who have registered and requested for work.
However, there should be gender equality in participation in MGNREGA. The Act also
provides some explicit entitlements for women to facilitate their full participation which
includes Equal wages for men and women, Participation in Management and monitoring of
the programme, Participation in social audit, Providing support for child care and
convenience to households and by recognizing a single person as a ‘household’, the Act
makes it possible for widows and other single women to access for work. The details about
emerging trends of MGNREGA women beneficiaries have been discussed below with the
help of table.
Table 1: MGNREGA at a Glance in India: Recent Trends
Indicators
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Persondays Generated so far (in Crore)
230.41
220.36
162.71
Women Persondays out of Total (%)
51.3
52.8
54.76
Total Households Worked (in Crore)
4.99
4.79
4.1
Total Individuals Worked (in Crore)
7.97
7.39
6.16
% of Men Worked
52.93
52.03
49.76
% of Women Worked
47.07
47.97
50.24
Source: http://mnregaweb4.nic.in/netnrega/all_lvl_details_dashboard_new.aspx,
It is clear from the table 1 that women have generated 54.76% persondays in FY
2014-15 which was 52.8% in FY 2013-14 and 51.3% in FY 2012-13 throughout the country.
So the participation of women in MGNREGA seems to be increasing over the previous years.
Again the table shows that total 6.16 crore individuals have worked in MGNREGA in FY
2014-15 in which women constitute 50.24% participation, 7.39 crore worked in FY 2013-14
in which women participation was 47.97% and in FY 2012-13, 7.97 crore worked under the
MGNREGA in which women participation was 47.07%. So it is stated that since FY 2012-13
to FY 2014-15 women have participated significantly and have shown their interest to
participate under MGNREGA.13
By putting cash incomes into hands, MGNREGA is beginning to create a greater
degree of economic independence among women. The survey data (both qualitative and
quantitative) suggest that women workers are more confident about their roles as contribution
to family expenditure and their work decision, and that they are also becoming more assertive
about their space in the public sphere. More than half of the respondents felt that the
MGNREGA has brought a significant change in their village as well as in their own lives.
This is because employment is being provided within their village, generating community
assets and enhancing their spending capacity.
Table 2: Number of Persondays Generated by Women in MGNREGA in India
SN
State
No. of Persondays generated
(in Lakh)
% of Persondays generated
(in Lakh)
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
1
Andhra Pradesh
1599.58
1909.54
(19.37)
1756.563
(-8.01)
15.70
16.15
(2.86)
15.09
(-6.56)
2
Arunachal Pradesh
0.21
13.16
(6166.6)
11.095
(-15.7)
0.002
0.11
(5400)
0.095
(-13.63)
3
Assam
88.07
81.691
(-7.24)
73.875
(-9.5)
0.86
0.69
(-19.76)
0.63
(-8.69)
4
Bihar
179.49
288.522
(60.74)
301.521
(4.5)
1.76
2.44
(38.63)
2.59
(6.14)
5
Chhattisgarh
548.83
560.547
(2.13)
630.359
(12.45)
5.38
4.74
(-11.89)
5.41
(14.13)
6
Goa
2.35
0.542
(-76.93)
0.868
(60.14)
0.02
0.004
(-80)
0.007
(75)
7
Gujarat
140.75
120.829
(-14.15)
101.244
(-16.2)
1.38
1.02
(-26.08)
0.88
(-13.72)
8
Haryana
39.7
51.367
(29.38)
49.173
(-4.27)
0.38
0.43
(13.15)
0.42
(-0.23)
9
Himachal Pradesh
155.37
159.06
(2.37)
176.604
(11.02)
1.52
1.34
(-11.84)
1.51
(12.68)
10
Jammu & Kashmir
28.76
72.69
(152.74)
78.291
(7.70)
0.28
0.61
(117.85)
0.67
(9.83)
11
Jharkhand
188.06
185.306
(-1.46)
139.131
(-24.91)
1.84
1.56
(-15.21)
1.19
(-23.71)
12
Karnataka
321.32
285.744
(-11.07)
334.917
(17.2)
3.15
2.41
(-23.49)
2.87
(19.08)
13
Kerala
586.75
779.047
(32.77)
808.593
(3.79)
5.75
6.59
(14.60)
6.95
(5.46)
14
Madhya Pradesh
671.42
593.331
(-11.63)
524.389
(-11.61)
6.59
5.01
(-23.97)
4.50
(-10.17)
15
Maharashtra
299.43
388.618
(29.78)
226.01
(-41.84)
2.93
3.28
(11.94)
1.94
(-40.85)
16
Manipur
68.63
96.957
(40.75)
39.909
(-58.83)
0.67
0.82
(22.38)
0.003
(-99.63)
17
Meghalaya
67.24
71.592
(6.47)
89.828
(25.47)
0.66
0.60
(-9.09)
0.77
(28.33)
18
Mizoram
29.01
40.159
(38.43)
40.363
(0.5)
0.28
0.03
(-89.28)
0.34
(1033.33)
19
Nagaland
57.96
63.804
(10.08)
53.179
(-16.65)
0.56
0.53
(-5.35)
0.45
(-15.09)
20
Odisha
175.36
196.251
(11.91)
238.941
(21.75)
1.72
1.66
(-3.48)
2.05
(23.49)
21
Punjab
27.83
30.292
(8.84)
71.027
(134.47)
0.27
0.25
(-7.40)
0.61
(144)
22
Rajasthan
1458.01
1519.05
(4.18)
1245.758
(-17.99)
14.31
12.85
(-10.20)
10.70
(-16.73)
23
Sikkim
14.65
15.872
(4.18)
19.749
(24.42)
0.14
0.13
(-7.14)
0.16
(23.07)
24
Tamilnadu
2231.01
3026.42
(35.65)
3086.822
(1.98)
21.09
25.60
(21.38)
26.53
(0.36)
25
Telangna
-NIL-
-NIL-
-NIL-
-NIL-
-NIL-
-NIL-
26
Tripura
189.43
211.165
245.647
1.85
1.78
2.11
(11.43)
(16.32)
(-3.78)
(18.53)
27
Uttar Pradesh
454.63
278.112
(-38.82)
388.732
(39.77)
4.46
2.35
(-47.30)
3.34
(42.12)
28
Uttarakhand
84.86
90.097
(6.17)
74.33
(-17.5)
0.83
0.76
(-8.43)
0.63
(-17.1)
29
West Bengal
465.08
680.468
(46.31)
816.015
(19.91)
4.56
5.75
(26.09)
7.01
(21.91)
30
Andaman and
Nicobar
3.75
2.983
(-21.48)
3.781
(26.75)
0.036
0.025
(-30.55)
0.032
(2.8)
31
Dadra & Nagar
Haveli
0
0(0)
0(0)
0
0(0)
0(0)
32
Daman & Diu
0
0(0)
0(0)
0
0(0)
0(0)
33
Chandigarh
0
0(0)
0.001(0)
0
0(0)
0(0)
34
Lakshadweep
0.58
0.144
(-75.17)
0.032
(-77.77)
0.005
0.001
(-80)
0.0002
(-80)
35
Pondicherry
8.68
7.287
(-16.04)
7.24
(-0.64)
0.085
0.061
(-28.23)
0.062
(1.63)
Total
10186.8
11820.667
(1.60)
11633.98
(-1.57)
100%
100%
100%
Source: http://164.100.129.6/netnrega/MISreport4.aspx?fin_year=2013-2014&rpt=RP, GoI, MoRD,
26-12-2014
The table 2 shows the total no. of persondays generated by women and their
respective ratio throughout the country. The data in brackets indicates the percentage change
over the year. So it is clear from the table that in FY 2013-14 and 2012-13 Tamilnadu is the
most leading state in the country to generate highest number of persondays followed by
Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan in both the years. The Union Territory like Daman and Diu,
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Chandigarh showed no women participation in MGNREGA. If
participation exists it was very less. Again table indicates that Punjab have shown tremendous
improvement in terms of persondays generation by women as it was 8.84% in FY 2012-13
which have increased to 134.47% in FY 2013-14. Similarly, the states likes Uttar Pradesh (-
38.42% in 2012-13 to 39.77% in 2013-14), Karnataka (-11.07% in 2012-13 to 17.2% in
2013-14) and Himachal Pradesh (2.37% in 2012-13 to 11.02% in 2013-14) have shown that
total no. of persondays generated by women have increased significantly. But some states
like Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand showed the decreased level
of persondays generated over the year by women in MGNREGA.
Table also shows the percentage of women’s participation in MGNREGA. It is clear
from the table that in FY 2013-14 and FY 2012-13, Tamilnadu was most leading state in
which women were generated highest 26.53% Persondays followed by Andhra
Pradesh(15.09% &16.15%) and Rajasthan (10.70% & 12.85%). Whereas the UT like Dadra
and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Chandigarh generated no Persondays of women
through MGNREGA.
3.3. Women Participation in MGNREGA in H.P - Changing Scenario:
Himachal Pradesh is predominantly a hilly state where 90 percent of its population is
living in villages. State consists of 12 districts, 82 tehsils, 77 Blocks and 3243 of Panchayats.
The total population of the state is 6856509 which consist of total 17495 households as per
2011 census. Here, 70 % of the population depends on Agriculture and Horticulture for their
livelihood and these sectors are the major sources of employment and income.
In Himachal Pradesh, MGNREGA was firstly introduced in two poor districts
Sirmour and Chamba on 2nd February 2006. In the second phase MGNREGA was started in
district Kangra and Mandi on 1st April 2007 and in the third phase all the remaining eight
districts of the state have been covered under the scheme w.e.f. 1st April 2008. It is felt that
MGNREGA scheme is contributing to engage local adult men and women to provide the
employment with livelihood security by generating durable assets. The details explanation
about emerging trends of MGNREGA women beneficiaries have been discussed below with
the help of table.
Table 3: MGNREGA at a Glance in Himachal Pradesh: Recent Trends
Indicators
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
Persondays Generated so far (in Lakh)
262.1
282.5
186.11
Women Persondays out of Total (%)
60.69
62.52
61.18
Total Households Worked (in Lakh)
5.15
5.39
4.47
Total Individuals Worked (in Lakh)
6.44
6.82
5.68
% of Men Worked
43.42
42.41
41.91
% of Women Worked
56.58
57.59
58.09
Source: http://mnregaweb4.nic.in/netnrega/all_lvl_details_dashboard_new.aspx
It is clear from the table 3 that women have generated 61.18% persondays in FY
2014-15 which was 62.52% in FY 2013-14 and 60.69% in FY 2012-13 in the state. So the
participation of women in MGNREGA seems to be increasing over the previous years. Again
the table shows that total 5.68 lakh individuals have worked in MGNREGA in FY 2014-15 in
which women constitute 58.09% participation, 6.82 lakh worked in FY 2013-14 in which
women participation was 57.59% and in FY 2012-13, 6.44 lakh worked under the
MGNREGA in which women participation was 56.58%. So it is stated that since FY 2012-13
to FY 2014-15 women have participated significantly and have shown their interest to
participate under MGNREGA.
Table 4: Number of Persondays Generated by Women in MGNREGA in H.P
SN
Districts
Women
Population
2011 Census
No. of Persondays generated
(in Lakh)
% of Persondays generated
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
1
Bilaspur
189229
2.19
6.94
(216.89)
7.80
(12.39)
1.84
4.36
(136.95)
4.41
(1.14)
2
Chamba
257996
9.26
17.26
(86.39)
16.20
(-6.14)
7.79
10.85
(39.28)
9.17
(-15.48)
3
Hamirpur
237551
7.43
9.28
(24.89)
10.22
(10.14)
6.50
5.83
(-10.30)
5.78
(-0.85)
4
Kangra
758664
29.22
31.49
(7.76)
40.81
(29.62)
24.59
19.79
(-19.52)
23.11
(16.18)
5
Kinnaur
37934
2.03
2.55
(25.61)
3.55
(39.12)
1.70
1.60
(-5.88)
2.01
(25.62)
6
Kullu
213154
7.45
9.79
(31.40)
12.20
(24.62)
6.27
6.15
(-1.91)
6.90
(12.19)
7
Lahul & Spiti
15073
0.68
0.78
(14.70)
1.06
(35.02)
0.36
0.49
(36.11)
0.60
(22.44)
8
Mandi
502731
40.6
54.69
(34.45)
56.49
(3.29)
21.50
34.38
(59.90)
31.99
(-6.95)
9
Shimla
388898
7.94
11.23
(41.43)
10.68
(-4.95)
6.68
7.06
(5.68)
6.04
(-14.44)
10
Sirmour
253363
3.03
4.82
(59.07)
5.80
(20.31)
2.55
3.03
(18.82)
3.28
(0.82)
11
Solan
270508
4.68
4.92
(5.12)
5.13
(4.34)
2.47
3.09
(25.10)
2.90
(-6.14)
12
Una
257516
4.28
5.26
(22.89)
6.61
(25.63)
3.60
3.30
(-8.33)
3.74
(13.33)
Total
3382617
118.8
159.05
(33.83)
176.60
(11.02)
100%
100%
100%
Source:http://164.100.129.6/netnrega/state_html/empstatusnewall_scst.aspx?page=S&lflag=eng&sta
te_name=HIMACHAL+PRADESH&state_code=13&fin_year=2013-
2014&source=national&Digest=/HGjgWohFVdRn4h0jiJqGg
Table 4 shows the data pertaining to Himachal Pradesh. The data in brackets shows
the percentage change over the previous year. It shows that in the state through MGNREGA
176.60 lakh persondays have been generated in FY 2013-14, 159.05 lakh in FY 2012-13 and
118.8 lakh persondays were generated in FY 2011-12. It again shows that the district Mandi
generated highest Persondays in the last three years which was 56.49 lakh in FY 2013-14,
54.69 lakh in FY 2012-13 and 40.6 lakh persondays in FY 2011-12 followed by Kangra
district which was 40.81 lakh in FY 2013-14, 31.49 lakh in FY 2012-13 and 29.22 lakh in FY
2011-12. The district Lahul & Spilti generated least Persondays of Women through
MGNREGA in the state. Table also represent the percent wise data of Persondays generated
by women in the state. It shows that Mandi is the most leading district in the state where
women have generated highest no of Persondays which was 31.99% in FY 2013-14, 34.38%
Persondays in FY 2012-13 and 21.50% in FY 2011-12 followed by Kangra district which
constitute 23.11% in FY 2013-14, 19.79% in FY 2012-13 and 24.59% in FY 2011-12.
Again percentage change over the year data indicates that the districts like Mandi
(7.76% in FY 2012-13 to 29.62 in FY 2013-14), Lahul & Spiti (14.70% in 2012.13 to
35.02% in FY 2013-14) and Una (from 22.89% in FY 2012-13 to 25.63% in FY 2013-14)
have increased the no of persondays over the previous year. But some districts like Bilaspur
(216.89% in FY 2012-13 to -4.95% in FY 2013-14), Chamba (86.39% in FY 2012-13 to -
6.14% in FY 2013-14) and Shimla (41.43% in FY 2012-13 to -4.95% in FY 2013-14) have
shown poor participation of women in terms of persondays generation where the participation
have fallen as compared to previous year.
4. Observations, Conclusion and Suggestions:
From the data and findings it is concluded that MGNREGA has become a powerful
instrument for women empowerment in rural India through its impact on social protection,
livelihood security and democratic governance. The data indicated that MGNREGA has
scattered throughout the country and showing good results and matter of the fact is that now
it has become the world’s largest employment generation scheme. MGNREGA has become
an important work opportunity for women who would have otherwise remained unemployed
or underemployed. Independent and monetized earning have increased their consumption
choices and reduced economic dependence.
It is observed that in the year 2014-15 Tamilnadu has the highest women participation
rate at 26.99% in Persondays generation while Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Valley and
Chandigarh have shown lowest participation. It is felt that MGNREGA scheme is
contributing to engage local adult men and women to provide the employment with
livelihood security by generating durable assets. Also in Himachal Pradesh it has been
observed that MGNREGA scheme is working in all the districts and Mandi is the most
leading district in terms of employment providing to women followed by Kangra. So
MGNREGA is proving to be an important scheme for women empowerment throughout the
country. Thus, it is said that both at national and state level women participation is increasing
with the passage of time and then are sharing financial burden with males. It is concluded that
MGNREGA is contributing significantly in empowering women in rural areas especially a
hill state like H.P. But a need is felt to ensure timely payment of wages in view to attain the
objectives of MGNREGA in practice.
For the empowerment of women it is suggested that the government should run
awareness programme for rural women so that they could know the important provisions
made for them in MGNREGA and payments be made through bank accounts only and on
time in particular. It may be proposed that other local need based women friendly tasks may
be included so that more women folk may be covered in the umbrella of MGNREGA and
consequent they may have more economic and decision freedom.
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www.downtoearth.org.in/node/2282
Khera, Reetika and Nayak, Nandini. (2009), “Women Workers and Perceptions of the
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Mallick Anupriyo (2013), “PLIGHT OF WOMEN DOMESTIC WORKERS IN INDIA”,
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