STATE RURAL LIVELIHOODS MISSION: ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN

Abstract

A majority of the rural women are illiterate and are unskilled. As they have limited employment opportunities, more than four fifths of all women working in rural areas are engaged in agriculture, which is the least productive sector in India and characterized by widespread poverty (Kanchi, 2009). Along with wide spread unemployment, the gender gaps exist in labour force participation. In India, the gender gap in labour force participation rate is more than 50 percent. The lower participation of women in economic activities adversely affects the growth potential of the economy (Economic Survey of India, 2018).

Globalization has ensured that women's labour is further capsulized women have lesser means, education and skills, and fewer productive assets than men. Given their additional responsibilities within the household, their range of employment options are severely limited (Grown, 2006 & Chari, 2006). In India, almost 66 per cent of women fall under the category of "unpaid work". The Indian women, particularly rural women, play many social and economic roles inside as well as outside the home, but their contribution does not receive due recognition (Sinha, 2016). Empowerment of women could be only achieved if their economic and social status is improved (Samantaray, Das and Khuntia, 2013). The Government of India is keen to address the issue of low female Labour Force Participation Ratio (LFPR) and has launched various legislation-based schemes and other programmes where the emphasis is laid on women participation. For example, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), guaranteeing at least 100 days of wage employment to every household in rural areas and National Rural Livelihood Mission (Ministry of Labour and Employment Bureau, 2016).