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

Factors Facilitating Participation of Women in Mahatma Gandhi NREGS 1Need for the <strong>Study</strong>CHAPTER - IINTRODUCTIONThe National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is a landmark initiativein providing 100 days guaranteed employment on demand to every ruralhousehold at the minimum wage whose adult members (both male andfemale) would like to do unskilled manual work. Participation of communityin NREGS is one of the pre-requisites to enforce the ‘rights and entitlements’envisaged and make it community-oriented and demand-driven scheme.The success of the programme is entirely dependent on the participation ofthe community in general and women in particular since the share of latterin employment is almost 50 per cent. As women are found to be betterchange agents of socio-economic transformation, efforts are needed tostrengthen their participation for household livelihood security as well asbetter asset management.The national average number of days of employment in MGNREGSis still less than 50 days and it varies across different regions and states.Participation of women in MGNREGS is reported to be largely passive innature. Few studies have referred to some of the favourable and unfavourablefactors determining women’s participation including intensity of participation.MGNREGA has several gender sensitive features that are attractivefor women workers. The Act stipulates that priority shall be given to women.In terms of implementation, it mandates that a minimum of one-third of thebeneficiaries are to be women who have registered and have requested forwork (Schedule II, Section 6 of MGNREGA). The state is obliged to ensurecertain worksite facilities to enhance women workers’ participation. TheAct also stipulates payment of equal wages to male and female workers.Wage earnings of workers are to be paid directly to the person concernedRS 97