(a) whether it is a fact that women''s employment has taken an alarming dip in rural areas in the past two years;
(b) if so, whether it is a fact that declining women''s employment in rural areas is a long term trend in India despite high economic growth, if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any survey in this regard, if so,
the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to generate employment for women in rural areas?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)
(a): No, Madam. As per the Programme Management Information System (MIS), the participation of women in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has been increased from 52.82% (2013-14) to 58.53% (2015-16 upto 4th August, 2015).
(b): Does not arise.
(c): The Government has not conducted any survey in this regard.
(d): The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005, guarantees at least 100 days of wage-employment to the rural poor including women in India. The Ministry has issued guidelines to the states from time to time to facilitate women participation by providing worksite facilities such as creches, drinking water, shade, etc. as per provisions of the Act. It has also been suggested that at least 50% of the worksite supervisors (Mates) at all worksites to be women and special works which require less effort and those that are close to their houses are to be given to pregnant women and lactating mothers. The construction of Anganwadi center has been included as one of the permissible works under the Scheme. The Intensive Participatory Planning Exercise (IPPE) has also been started in 2534 backward blocks to increase the participation of women in planning.
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