EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN THROUGH MGNREGA: A CASE STUDY OF LONGLENG DISTRICT, NAGALAND
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/6bf7eq42Keywords:
Socio-economic status, women empowerment, MGNREGA, gender equity, rural womenAbstract
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is a key social welfare initiative aimed at enhancing livelihood security by guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment annually to every rural household whose adult members are willing to perform unskilled manual work. The Act includes special provisions to ensure the active participation of women, thereby promoting gender equity and empowerment. This study examines the socio-economic status of women beneficiaries under MGNREGA and assesses the programme’s impact on empowering rural women. Based on field-level data collected from selected villages, the research highlights how MGNREGA contributes to income generation, decision-making capacity, and increased mobility among women. The findings indicate that the programme plays a positive role in improving the lives of rural women, though challenges related to implementation and limited work availability persist. The paper concludes by offering suggestions to enhance the effectiveness of MGNREGA in meeting the specific needs of rural women more efficiently.
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