Journal of Socialomics

Abstract

Inclusion of Female Labour Force in MGNREGA: A Micro Level Study

Shobha K

As majority of women live below the poverty line and are engaged in subsistence struggle, macro-economic policies and poverty alleviation programmes are to address the pitiful problems of poor women. Steps are being taken for mobilization of poor women, convergence of wide range of economic and social options along with support services to enhance their capabilities. Women’s perspective is being included in designing and implementing macro-economic and social policies by institutionalizing their participation in the process. One such programme focusing on unskilled based wage-employment is Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) [1]. The Ministry of Rural Development, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA) aims at enhancing livelihood security of households in rural areas of the country by providing at least one hundred days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The Mahatma Gandhi NREGA has become a powerful instrument for inclusive growth in rural India through its impact on social protection, livelihood security and democratic governance. Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is the first ever law internationally that guarantees wage employment at an unprecedented scale.