MGNREGA: employment empowerment can sustain rural economy
Dr Pratibha Tewari
MGNREGA is an employment act that has given constitutional right of employment to poor and needy Indian residents,although employment is given partially but it is a step towards employment empowerment of rural poor. I conducted a study in Arid district of Rajasthan in five villages,largely interviewing women who are enrolled in work through job card formalities.Primary survey was conducted on wages received, employment days generated for women, pre and post MGNREGA upward movement of wage parity for women . The survey also covered information on general working conditions of women at worksite, decision making capacity enhancement, perception about MGNREGA,
Dr Pratibha Tewari
MGNREGA is an employment act that has given constitutional right of employment to poor and needy Indian residents,although employment is given partially but it is a step towards employment empowerment of rural poor. I conducted a study in Arid district of Rajasthan in five villages,largely interviewing women who are enrolled in work through job card formalities.Primary survey was conducted on wages received, employment days generated for women, pre and post MGNREGA upward movement of wage parity for women . The survey also covered information on general working conditions of women at worksite, decision making capacity enhancement, perception about MGNREGA,
All of the women reported that
wages are collected by them personally through post offices. They have better
access to public services like bank and post office , post MGNREGA. The survey revealed that in
MGNREGA more that 90% workers are women where as in agriculture labourers 80%
workers are male. Upward movement of wage parity of women was observed in
villages due to MGNREGA i.e. maximum wage increased up to 44% and minimum wage increased 33% due
to MGNREGA . The programme enhanced
decision making capacity of women pertaining to child’s education and
marriage, political participation, freedom of shopping gadgets and assets, visiting
own biological parent’s house etc.All women reported positively
for getting first aid facilities, shade and drinking water etc at work
site.
Table 2 Caste wise
distribution of households
|
||
Caste
|
Percent(%)
|
|
General
|
23.2
|
|
Scheduled caste
|
20.0
|
|
Scheduled Tribes
|
11.2
|
|
OBC
|
45.6
|
|
Total
|
100
|
|
Table 3 Upward Movement Of Wage Parity for Women
|
||||||
Wage Providing Sectors
|
Pre-MGNREGA
|
Post-MGNREGA
|
% Increase
|
|||
Max
|
Min
|
Max
|
Min
|
Max
|
Min
|
|
MGNREGA
|
90
|
60
|
130
|
80
|
44
|
33
|
Other
works
|
80
|
85
|
120
|
100
|
40
|
16
|
Table 4 PERCEPTION ABOUT MGNREGA
|
||
PERCEPTION
|
Y
|
N
|
Increased
family income
|
66
|
30
|
Increased
women’s work
|
76
|
30
|
Increased
men’s migration
|
57
|
49
|
Increased
women’s decision capacity
|
47
|
59
|
Increased
family living condition
|
59
|
47
|
Increased
family health communication
|
36
|
70
|
Increased
child education
|
27
|
79
|
Increased
family communication
|
50
|
56
|
Increased
family land holding
|
49
|
57
|
Increase
social status of family
|
44
|
62
|
Increased
village condition
|
72
|
34
|
The study concluded that there is
· Poor to very low felt needs of Gram sabha members and fear and social backwardness of women that lead to poor work proposals for MGNREGA.
· There is lack of awareness of newer works in panchayati raj institutions that can be sanctioned in the project therefore less number of employment days are generated
The policy implications of the study are
1. Gram sabha members of Panchayat Raj Institutions should be given training to come up with good work proposals for sustainable employment.
2. Number of days of employment can be enhanced up to150-200
3. Wages may remain low to avoid programme becoming lucrative for above poverty line population, thus benefiting poor.
