MGNREGA and Rural Development: A Case study of Jalangi Block in Murshidabad District, West Bengal

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is being considered as a “Silver Bullet” for the development. It has been eradicating the rural poverty and unemployment, by way of generating demand for productive labour force in villages. MGNREGA as a rural employment programme, which include both Centrally Sponsored Schemes and those launched by State Govt. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is an Indian job guarantee scheme, enacted by legislation on August 25, 2005. The scheme provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work (unskilled manual work) at the statutory minimum wage. The extensive participation of women in MGNREGA has meant that women are coming out of their homes, not only to work but also to visit banks and Panchayet offices, which they are not able previously. It finds evidence of increased confidence and decision making skill among women. It is playing a substantial role in creating employment for women, leading to greater independence and self respect among women. Women worker feels highly satisfied with the MGNREGA employment as now they get the wages equal to the male workers and also she can participate in the upliftment of her family by becoming an earning member of the family. Thus, MNREGA has brought economic independence among women. We show that the women participation rate in NREGA is gradually increasing per year. The extensive participation of women in MGNREGA has meant that women are coming out of their homes, not only to work but also to visit banks and Panchayet offices, which they are not able previously. It finds evidence of increased confidence and decision making skill among women. It is playing a substantial role in creating employment for women, leading to greater independence and self respect among women.