Awareness of Women Laborers Regarding MGNREGA in Rural Haryana

Description

Page: 302-306

Sushma Devi, Jatesh Kathpalia, Rashmi Tyagi, and Rijul Sihag (Department of Sociology, College of Basic Sciences & Humanities, CCS Haryana Agricultural University Hisar, Haryana)

The study was conducted in the Sirsa and Bhiwani districts of Haryana’s state to examine the awareness and participation in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). A total of 120 women laborers were surveyed across four villages. India’s agricultural sector plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of its rural population, with women contributing significantly to various farming and allied activities. Despite their vital role, women face persistent challenges such as land ownership disparities, limited access to credit, and socio-economic constraints. The findings reveal significant variations in education levels, socio- economic status, and awareness of government welfare programs. The socio-economic status profile indicates that the medium socio-economic category encompasses the largest share of respondents in both districts, with Bhiwani (45.0%) slightly surpassing Sirsa (40.0%). While a majority with 67.5% of the sample expressed awareness of MGNREGA and 60 percent of respondents, across both areas, did not receive any information about the program from officer and in scheme participation was limited due to inadequate information dissemination and systemic challenges. Regarding providing 100 days of work under MGNREGA, 53.3% of women reported receiving this work, with 43.3% in Sirsa and 63.3% in Bhiwani. However, 46.6% of women did not receive the full 100 days of work, with Sirsa having a higher proportion of women (56.6%) not receiving the full work quota. The study underscores the need for policy interventions to bridge gender disparities and enhance women’s economic empowerment in the agricultural sector.