A Transformative Insight of Women’s Empowerment in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act Scheme of India: A Case Study of Haryana State

Although women’s empowerment was not the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act’s (MGNREGA) primary purpose, it did include provisions such as equal wage rights for men and women and crèche facilities to encourage women’s involvement, correct some gendered inequalities in the labour market and raise their share of benefits. Similarly, the Act’s demand-driven strategy encourages the lowest-caste unskilled labour, women and most marginalised rural and agricultural workers to participate in large numbers. Women’s empowerment is central to human development. Empowerment of women could only be achieved if their economic and social statuses were improved. This study analyses the socio-economic empowerment effects through the MGNREGA scheme on rural women of Haryana. Using the field survey study, we found that women earned a livelihood through paid employment under MGNREGA and contributed their income as the largest share of household income. They gained income-consumption effects along with raising their decision-making power, freedom of mobility and bargaining power after joining the scheme. Despite its positive impact, the success of the programme faces several implementation challenges, including delays in wage payments, delayed work allocation, administrative negligence and inadequate worksite facilities. Furthermore, key provisions such as unemployment allowance and accident compensation are often not effectively implemented. Addressing these issues and strengthening the involvement of self-help groups and labour unions could enhance the transformative impact of MGNREGA on women’s empowerment.