Mgnrega and Women Empowerment


Book Description

Empower yourself with knowledge and inspiration with "MGNREGA and Women Empowerment" by Annita Ranjan, a groundbreaking exploration of the transformative impact of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on women's empowerment in India. Join Annita Ranjan as she delves into the profound implications of MGNREGA, a landmark government initiative aimed at providing employment opportunities and social security to rural households. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Ranjan sheds light on the ways in which MGNREGA has empowered women by enhancing their economic independence, social mobility, and political agency. Delve into the themes of gender equality, social justice, and grassroots democracy as Ranjan examines the role of MGNREGA in challenging traditional gender roles and empowering women to take control of their own destinies. From the empowerment of rural women as wage earners to their increased participation in decision-making processes at the local level, "MGNREGA and Women Empowerment" offers a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of the multifaceted dimensions of women's empowerment in rural India. Character analysis focuses on the countless women whose lives have been transformed by MGNREGA, from agricultural laborers and domestic workers to entrepreneurs and community leaders. Through their stories and experiences, readers gain insight into the challenges and triumphs of women's empowerment in India and the vital role that government policies can play in effecting positive change. The overall tone and mood of the book are one of hope, optimism, and empowerment, as Ranjan's insightful commentary and inspiring anecdotes illustrate the transformative power of grassroots activism and social welfare programs. From the bustling streets of rural villages to the corridors of power in New Delhi, "MGNREGA and Women Empowerment" offers a compelling and uplifting portrait of a nation on the path to gender equality and social justice. Critically acclaimed for its depth of research, clarity of analysis, and passionate advocacy for women's rights, "MGNREGA and Women Empowerment" has earned praise from scholars, policymakers, and activists alike for its ability to shed light on one of the most pressing issues of our time. Its enduring relevance as a seminal work on women's empowerment in India speaks to its universal appeal and timeless significance. Whether you're a student, scholar, policymaker, or activist, "MGNREGA and Women Empowerment" offers valuable insights and inspiration for anyone interested in promoting gender equality and social justice in India and beyond. Join Annita Ranjan on a journey of discovery and empowerment, and learn how grassroots initiatives like MGNREGA are transforming the lives of women in rural India. Don't miss your chance to be inspired by "MGNREGA and Women Empowerment" by Annita Ranjan. Order your copy today and join the movement for gender equality and social justice!







Transformation of Women at Work in Asia


Book Description

This book examines the drivers of, and barriers to, participation of women in the Asian labour market for its socio-economic development and structural transformation. Based on original comparative research and extensive fieldwork, Transformation of Women at Work in Asia highlights the commonalities as well as the diverse nature of challenges that women across Asia face in gaining access to more and better jobs. Findings show that women across the continent have contributed significantly to its spectacular growth story; yet, social norms and economic factors limit their levels of participation. The book calls for a comprehensive approach to improve opportunities for women's participation in the labour market as well as for the freedom to engage in paid employment. This will, in turn, contribute to a more inclusive growth process. It addresses important challenges faced by women workers and provides policy options for governments to promote decent work opportunities for women across social strata.




Employment Guarantee Programme and Dynamics of Rural Transformation in India


Book Description

This book offers an assessment of the performance, impact, and welfare implications of the world’s largest employment guarantee programme, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Launched by the Indian government, the programme covers entire rural area of the country. The book presents various micro-level analyses of the programme and its heterogeneous impacts at different scales, almost a decade after its implementation. While there are some doubts over the future of the scheme as well as its magnitude, nature and content, the central government appears committed to it, as a ‘convergence scheme’ of various other welfare and rural development programmes being implemented at both national and state level. The book discusses the outcomes of the programme and offers critical insights into the lessons learnt, not only in the context of India, but also for similar schemes in countries in South and South-East Asia as well as in Africa, and Latin America. Adopting inter-disciplinary perspectives in analysing these issues, this unique book uses a judicious mix of methods---integrating quantitative and qualitative tools---and will be an invaluable resource for analysts, NGOs, policymakers and academics alike.




The Battle for Employment Guarantee


Book Description

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is a unique initiative in the history of social security-it is not just an employment scheme but also a potential tool of economic and social change in rural areas. This volume presents the first comprehensive account of the 'battle for employment guarantee' in rural India. Staying clear of the propaganda and mud-slinging that has characterized much of the NREGA debate so far, the book presents an informed and authentic picture of the ground realities. The essays are based on field studies of NREGA by a team of researchers who have been actively involved in the campaign for the right to work. They examine a wide-range of issues such as entitlements, corruption, people's perceptions of NREGA, women's empowerment, mobilization of unorganized workers, and socio-economic impact of NREGA. They also provide a comparative analysis of the challenges and successes in the implementation of NREGA in different states including Orissa, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan.




Employment Guarantee Scheme


Book Description

Evaluation report, based on survey, of the impact of an employment creation scheme in rural public works, especially on rural women, in Maharashtra, India - compares labour force participation of men and women; notes regional disparity and corruption, and emphasizes the need for improved project management and data collecting; concludes that the scheme has improved the income of families living in poverty.




Women's Economic Empowerment


Book Description

This book investigates the barriers to women’s economic empowerment in the Global South. Drawing on evidence from a wide range of countries, the book outlines important lessons and practical solutions for promoting gender equality. Despite global progress in closing gender gaps in education and health, women’s economic empowerment has lagged behind, with little evidence that economic growth promotes gender equality. International Development Research Centre’s (IDRC) Growth and Economic Opportunities for Women (GrOW) programme was set up to provide policy lessons, insights, and concrete solutions that could lead to advances in gender equality, particularly on the role of institutions and macroeconomic growth, barriers to labour market access for women, and the impact of women’s care responsibilities. This book showcases rigorous and multi-disciplinary research emerging from this ground-breaking programme, covering topics such as the school-to-work transition, child marriage, unpaid domestic work and childcare, labour market segregation, and the power of social and cultural norms that prevent women from fully participating in better paid sectors of the economy. With a range of rich case studies from Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Uganda, this book is perfect for students, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working on women’s economic empowerment and gender equality in the Global South.




Social networks, mobility, and political participation: The potential for women’s self-help groups to improve access and use of public entitlement schemes in India


Book Description

Women’s self-help groups (SHGs) have increasingly been used as a vehicle for social, political, and economic empowerment as well as a platform for service delivery. Although a growing body of literature shows evidence of positive impacts of SHGs on various measures of empowerment, our understanding of ways in which SHGs improve awareness and use of public services is limited. To fill this knowledge gap, this paper first examines how SHG membership is associated with political participation, awareness, and use of government entitlement schemes. It further examines the effect of SHG membership on various measures of social networks and mobility. Using data collected in 2015 across five Indian states and matching methods to correct for endogeneity of SHG membership, we find that SHG members are more politically engaged. We also find that SHG members are not only more likely to know of certain public entitlements than non-members, they are significantly more likely to avail of a greater number of public entitlement schemes. Additionally, SHG members have wider social networks and greater mobility as compared to non-members. Our results suggest that SHGs have the potential to increase their members’ ability to hold public entities accountable and demand what is rightfully theirs. An important insight, however, is that the SHGs themselves cannot be expected to increase knowledge of public entitlement schemes in absence of a deliberate effort to do so by an external agency.




Development and Welfare Policy in South Asia


Book Description

This book sheds light on social policies in six South Asian countries introduced between 2003 and 2013, examining the ways in which these policies have come about, and what this reflects about the nature of the state in each of these countries. It offers a detailed analysis of the nature of these policies introduced in recent years in Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and illustrates the similarities and differences in policy approaches amongst the six countries. Through this analysis, the book explores the thesis of whether there is a particular type of ‘developmental welfare state’ that can be observed across South Asia. The focus is on social policies or policies designed to address poverty and deliver welfare at the level of programming and design, i.e. the stated intent of these policies. The book also presents an analysis of the fiscal space available in each of the six countries, thereby drawing conclusions about the financial feasibility of a ‘developmental welfare state’ model in the region. This comprehensive book uniquely explores critical aspects of policy debates on a possible move from welfare to ‘rights’. It introduces students and researchers in development studies, social policy and South Asian studies to innovative welfare programmes in South Asia and gives a new perspective on the nature and patterns of welfare in South Asia with the view of tackling inequality and promoting well-being.




Politics and the Right to Work


Book Description

A rare and hugely successful story in the global development world, Jenkins and Manor present detailed research that convincingly demonstrates the efficacy of the MGNREGA in India