Women work issues in rural development: a case of m.g.nrega implementation in west Bengal, India

Abstract

Based on gender and development (GAD) approach, this paper explores how M.G.NREGA is opening a new window for the ease of livelihood for rural women in India. M.G.NREGA is the first right based and demand driven employment generating scheme of the country which ensures some special provisions for rural women. The focus of these provisions is to mainstream the rural women into the contemporary discourses of economic development. The paper keeps an inner look about the expectations from this scheme for the development of women livelihood in rural areas and the challenges in ground level implementation. The problem addressed in the paper is the women work issues generating through the successful implementation of the scheme. It is important to find out how the full benefits of the scheme can be explored. This exploration is needed for a large section of the societal benefit and improved livelihood. For the entire study, a twofold approach is taken. First, analysis of available literatures to understand the possible outcomes of the scheme with current discourses of economic development. Second, analysis of primary and secondary data for revealing the characteristics of the problem based on gender dynamics of the region. The study relates findings from the field survey of 210 samples in the state of West Bengal, India. Intensive field study has identified several positive outcomes like saving of time for domestic works, mainstreaming of women labour, generation of income and livelihood security for village women, reorganization of women‟s work etc., with wide regional variations. The study has identified major challenges to get these benefits. The result drawn from the study is general and regionally applicable.