WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN MGNREGA

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28 Dec WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN MGNREGA

Posted at 28 Dec 2023 in Daily Current Affairs for UPSC by
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MAINS SYLLABUS GS2 PAPER: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation 

WHY IN NEWS? 

As per Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS-5) released by National Statistics Office (NSO) for fiscal year 2021-23; proportion of women workers participating in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has touched a 10-year high in the ongoing financial year. 

WHAT IS MGNREGA?

  1. Launched in 2006, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) legally enshrines the “right to work” and ensures livelihood security in rural areas.
  2. It provides at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
  3. An important objective of MGNREGA has been to encourage women’s effective participation, both as workers and as administrators.
  4. For instance, according to MGNREGA guidelines, at least 33% of the beneficiaries shall be women who have registered and requested for work under the programme.
  5. Further, since employment is provided within 5 km radius of the village, it has immense potential to bolster women’s participation.
  6. Recently, Wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) will be paid only through an Aadhaar based payment system (ABPS), which requires the Aadhaar details of workers to be seeded to their job card

But how far has MGNREGA been successful in fulfilling this objective?

INCREASING WOMEN PARTICIPATION: 

  1. As per PLFS-5 there has been a negative trend in women’s Labor force participation rate (LFPR or the proportion of labor force to total female population) in rural India.
    1. For example: Rural female participation fell from nearly 25% in 2005 to 21% in 2014 and then even lower to around 17% in 2021.
  2. However, MGNREGA has helped mitigate the situation: According to the latest statistics available with the Union Ministry of Rural Development, 59.25% of the workers who used the scheme this year were women, their highest level of participation since 2012-13.
  3. The proportion of women person-days in the total has consistently increased since 2021 (54%) to 59% (2023). 

CAUSES FOR INCREASING WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN MGNREGA: 

  1. The gap between MGNREGA wages and market wages is high in various States, especially for male workers who are paid far more than female workers in the open market thus making MGNREGA work much less attractive for male workers. 
  2. Under MGNREGA, the clause of equal pay for men and women has also been adhered to and has resulted in shaping out a better socio-economic scenario for rural women of India.
  3.  The PLFS-5 data shows that MGNREGA has reduced the traditional wage discrimination in public works thus Women have looked upon MGNREGA, where minimum wages are to be paid, as a viable alternative.
  4. Several states also offer incentives for women workers under MGNREGA: For example, Kerala has setup a Dedicated welfare fund which extends insurance against any injury during work & financial assistance to women workers above the age of 60 years.
  5. Similarly in Uttar Pradesh, Mahila mates are being appointed in the villages to increase the participation of women. 
  6. Further in Bihar, the state government had given a clear message to Administration that the performance of the officials will be judged on the basis of women’s participation in the programme.
  7. Promotion of work culture among Rural Women through Self-help groups (SHGs) such as Kudumbashree in Kerala has also done wonders. 

POSITIVE IMPACT ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: 

MGNREGA work has improved Women’s access to economic resources and paid work thus enhancing the socio-economic status of Rural women: 

  1. Economic Independence: By providing 100 days of wage employment in rural areas, MGNREGA has enhanced economic independence of women providing them financial security. 
  2. Reduced Gender Wage Gap: It mandates equal wages for men and women for the same work thus promoting equity in income distribution.
  3. Social Empowerment: Women have gained visibility and recognition in their communities contributing to a positive shift in societal attitudes towards the role and capabilities of women.
    1. As Nobel Laureate Esther Duflo’s study has shown, rural wage work can significantly break the Patriarchal norms and provides rural women a political voice as well.
  4. Income generated through MGNREGA can also be invested in improving the health and education of women as well as their families. 
  5. At the same time, MGNREGA work helps in mitigating distress migration due to lack of opportunities in rural areas and will prevent congestion of Urban cities.

CAUSES FOR LOW WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN SEVERAL STATES: 

While 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. There are various reasons which act as hindrance to women’s participation as mentioned below: 

  1. Absence of safe & reliable transportation facilities
  2. Absence of childcare facilities such as Creche at work sites
  3. Lower wage rates: For example, MGNREGA wage rates (set by Central Government) of at least 17 of the 21 major states are even lower than the minimum wage for agricultural labor.
  4. Delay in Funds Dispersal by State Government within 15 days as mandated by MGNREGA leads to late payments as well as Workers are not compensated for a delay in payment of wages thus disincentivizing workers. 
  5. Ineffective Role of Panchayats who are provided with very little autonomy leading to ineffective implementation of the scheme. At the same time, Gram Sabha’s role has been limited to Social auditing at the end.
  6. Deep-rooted gender norms and stereotypes in certain regions limit women’s mobility & decision making power and confine them to Patriarchal hold of household work.
  7. Further, Women often have significant domestic responsibilities including childcare, eldercare, and household chores which leave them with insufficient time for other work (This phenomenon is called Time poverty as termed by World Bank).
  8. Health concerns: As per Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023, 58% of Indian women aged 15-24 years are anemic which hamper their ability to engage in labor-intensive work under MNREGA.

SUGGESTIVE MEASURES TO ENSURE HIGH PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN: 

As per recommendations given by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj & suggestions of Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CGI): 

  1. Moving away from current fixation of wages on CPI-AL (Consumer Price Index-Agriculture Labour) to Consumer Price Index- Combined (CPI-C) to be better reflective of Inflation.  
  2. A uniform wage rate by Central Government for all States can  further bridge the wage disparity among states and prevent uncalled for outward migration from poor states (a major issue during Pandemic years).
  3. Also focusing upon promotion of “women-centric works” through creation or linking of existing livelihood can lead to further participation. 
  4. At the same time, discrepancies in the payouts between men and women need to be addressed with immediate attention as per PLFS-5, women in labor sector earn 22.24% less than their male counterparts.
  5. Several economists have further demanded to increase the guaranteed days of work under the scheme from 100 to 150 days to deal with exigencies such as Pandemic, Natural calamities etc. 
  6. Demand for similar scheme in Tier-2 and Tier cities with low ecomoic development is also being raised at several platforms.
  7. For success of above suggestions, active participation of Local bodies is sin-quo-non. For this purpose, Gram Panchayats shall be provided with adequate resources & power to sanction works & authorize wage payments to ensure there are no delays in payments.

WAY FORWARD: 

The active participation of women in rural work through MGNREGA is integral for India to achieve its Saptarishi Targets as envisaged in Union Budget 2023 to become an Upper Income economy by 2047 while stepping into Amrit Kaal. It is also a major component of G-20’s Delhi Declaration on Women Empowerment. In words of First Prime Minister of the country, Shri Jawahar Lal Nehru; “To awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened. Once she is on the move, the family moves, the village moves, the nation moves.”

PRELIMS 2024 PRACTISE QUESTIONS:

Q1: Consider the following statements regarding Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2006: 

  1. The act by statute provides “Right to work” as legal right 
  2. The Ministry of Rural Development decides the uniform minimum wage for all the states
  3. As per PLFS-5, more than half of the workers enrolled under scheme are women
  4. It guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult member volunteer to skilled or unskilled work
  5. The wages are currently decided upon the Consumer Price Index- Combined (CPI-C) to be better reflective of inflation

Which of the above statements is correct? 

A. 1,2 and 5 

B. 2 and 4 only

C. 1,3 and 5

D. 1 and 3 only 

ANSWER: D

 

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