MGNREGA and its impact on Women's Empowerment: Evidence from KBK Region of Odisha

This paper attempts to examine the different women friendly provisions of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and to what extent it helps to empower the rural women in KBK region (undivided Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput) of Odisha. MGNREGA has several women friendly provisions that are attractive for empowering women and laying the basis for economic independence in the society. The Act provides greater scope for womens participation in planning and monitoring process. The scheme also mandates minimum one third of womens participation in workforce, guaranteed wage employment with equal wage to men& women, women friendly environment by providing child care facilities at worksite. The convenient time schedule of social audit forum encouraged the workers participation, especially women and marginalised communities. The degree of awareness on right and entitlement of the Act and fuller participation in MGNREGA process play vital role to induce women empowerment. Despite important women friendly provisions in MGNREGA, there are various factors which affect the women empowerment through the scheme.