Question : EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR RURAL WOMEN

(a) the details of the schemes under implementation for generation of employment opportunities for women in rural areas of the country particularly in Maharashtra and the employment generated under these schemes, states/UT-wise;

(b) the funds allocated, released and utilized by the States under the schemes for the purpose during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) the targets fixed and the achievements made with regard to the generation of employment opportunities for women in rural areas during the Eleventh Five Year Plan; and

(d) the other measures taken/being taken by the Government for socio economic development of rural women in the country?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI BIRENDER SINGH)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 272 due for answer on 11.12.2014.

(a) The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as a major employment generation programme in rural areas of the country including Maharashtra. The MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee for 100 days of employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. Under MGNREGA atleast one third of the total employment generated are to be given to women who have registered and demanded for work. Besides, the Ministry is implementing National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) to tackle the problem of unemployment, especially among women, in the rural areas. NRLM provides for training and capacity building of interested members to take up micro enterprises for enhancing their incomes. The Ministry also implements a placement linked skill development programme Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhaya Grameen Kaushal Yojana, a sub scheme of NRLM, for skilling of rural poor youth including women to improve their employability.

(b): The details are given at Annexure- I.

(c): The MGNREGA is a demand driven scheme, therefore no target is fixed as such under the programme. The details of central funds released and expenditure incurred under MGNREGA during 11th Five Year Plan are given at Annexure-II.

(d): The Ministry, inter alia, is implementing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) and Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) in rural areas of the country through State Governments and UT Administrations. The objective of these programmes is to bring about overall improvement in the quality of life to people in rural areas through employment generation, development of rural infrast- ructure and provision of other basic amenities.