Research Study on Factors Facilitating Participation of Women in ...

Factors Facilitating Participation of Women in Mahatma Gandhi NREGS 15with the bank/post office/government officials have all in a fundamentalway empowered the rural tribal women by enhancing their confidence leveland by ensuring some degree of financial independence. Working in NREGAhas given an opportunity to workers particularly women workers to shareinformation among fellow workers. This has led to Knowledge Empowermentin the tribal society. Similarly, NREGA has also brought in improvement inthe health status of the women workers. About 96 per cent of womenworkers surveyed are of the opinion that they have been able to gatherinformation on health related problems through interaction with their coworkerswhile working in NREGS.In one of UN’s “Solution Exchange for the Work and EmploymentCommunity” workshop on NREGS many themes like “Ensuring WomenExercise the Right to Work”, “Entitling Women’s Participation In Work” and“Empowering Women’s Participation” were discussed which recommendedthat District Perspective Plan should be prepared in a participatory mode sothat women can also be involved in the preparation of village / GramPanchayat development plans. In this process, selection of works can belinked to development priorities of GP and gender concerns in selection ofworks can also be ensured. Attempts should be made to evolve certainmechanisms similar to those adopted under people’s campaign of Kerala.This would also facilitate people’s participation including women for overalldevelopment and selection of need based development projects. Regardingentitlements, it was suggested that women’s entitlements in NREGP beprinted in simple language and given to each Front Line Worker before thecommencement of the works. It was also suggested to make arrangementsto provide the mandatory crèche services close to the homes of NREGPworkers. Women workers should be asked for suggestions on how facilitiesand services can be provided / improved. Such information be collated bythe Programme Officer and incorporated into the DPP (District PerspectivePlan). Finally for empowering the women wage seekers it was suggestedthat a workers’ forum be held every 15 days on payment day and an auditof the accounts as well as a gender audit based on specific indicators beconducted. The workers’ forum should be used for the resolution of anydisputes that may have arisen in relation to the work. If the nature of theRS 97