THE NATIONAL POLICY FOR EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN:

The Government of India has declared 2001 as Womens Empowerment year. The national
policy of empowerment of women has set certain clear-cut goals and objectives. The policy aims
at upliftment, development and empowerment in socio-economic and politicocultural aspects,
by creating in them awareness on various issues in relation to their empowerment. The following
are the specific objectives of National Policies particularly of rural folk on Empowerment of
women in India.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.

Creating an environment through positive economic and social policies for full
development of women to enable them to realize their full potential.
The de-jure and de-facto enjoyments of all human rights and fundamental freedom by
women on equal basis with men in all political, economic, social, cultural and civil
spheres.
Equal access to participation and decision making of women in social political and
economic life of the nation.
Equal access to women to health care, quality education at all levels, career and
vocational guidance, employment, equal remuneration, occupational health and
safety, social security and public life etc.
Strengthening legal systems aimed at elimination of all forms of discrimination
against women.
Changing societal attitudes and community practices by active participation and
involvement of both men and women.
Ministering a gender perspective in the development process.
Elimination of discrimination and all forms of violence against women and the girl
child.
Building and strengthening partnerships with civil society, particularly womens
organizations.

Economic Empowerment:
Support to Training & Employment Programme for Women (STEP)
A Central Sector Scheme launched in 1986-87, seeks to upgrade skill of poor
and assetless women and provide employment on sustainable basis by mobilizing them in viable
cooperative groups, strengthening marketing linkages, support services and access to
credit. The scheme also provides for enabling support services in the form of health check-ups,
legal and health literacy, elementary education, gender sensitization and mobile crches. The
ultimate endeavour of each project is to develop the group to thrive on a self-sustaining basis in
the market place with minimal governmental support and intervention even after the project
period is over. Since inception, around 250 projects have been provided financial assistance
under the scheme.
The ten traditional sectors identified for project funding under STEP comprise of agriculture,
animal husbandry, dairying, fisheries, handlooms, handicrafts, khadi and village industries,
sericulture, waste land development and social forestry. The scope and coverage of the scheme is

being broadened with introduction of locally appropriate sectors being identified and
incorporated into the scheme.

Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) Sabla

A centrally-sponsored scheme was approved by the Government on 16.8.2010. The scheme is
being implemented in 200 districts across the country on a pilot basis. In the remaining
districts, Kishori Shakti Yojana (KSY) continues to be operational as before. However, SABLA
has completely replaced Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG) as all districts of
NPAG are now part of the SABLA. The scheme, interalia, aims at vocational training for girls
above 16 years of age for their economic empowerment.
Sabla is being implemented through the State Governments/UTs with 100 per cent financial
assistance from the Central Government for all inputs other than nutrition provision for which 50
% Central assistance to States is provided. Anganwadi Centre is the focal point for the delivery
of the services.
Objectives:

Life Skill Education and accessing public services,

Vocational training for girls aged 16 and above under National Skill Development
Program (NSDP)
The successful implementation of SABLA requires convergence with development
activities/schemes of other Departments such as Health, Education, Youth Affairs,
Labour, PRIs etc.
Nearly 100 lakh adolescent girls per annum are expected to be benefitted under the
scheme. Against the allocation of Rs. 350 crore for the year 2010-11, a sum of Rs.
330 crore(approx.) has been released to States/UTs. The year 2011-12 will be the first
complete year of implementation of the scheme after which the physical and financial
achievements made vis--vis the target would be assessed. A sum of Rs. 750 crore has
been allocated for Sabla for 2011-12.
Swa-Shakti
The project jointly founded by IFAD, World Bank and the Government of India was
launched in October, 1999 and culminated on 30th June, 2005. The objective of the
program was to bring out socio-economic development and empowerment of women
through promotion of women SHGs, micro credit and income generating activities. The
project was conceived as a Pilot Project implemented in 335 blocks of 57 districts in 9
states. The project established 17,647 SHGs covering about 2, 44,000 women. This was a
Centrally Sponsored Project.
Swayamsiddha

This was an integrated scheme for women empowerment through formation of Self Help
Groups (SHGs) launched in February, 2001. The long term objective of the programme
was holistic empowerment of women through a sustained process of mobilization and
convergence of all the on going sectoral prorgrams by improving access of women to
micro-credit, economic resources, etc. This is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. The
Scheme had been able to provide a forum for women empowerment, collective reflection
and united action. The scheme was culminated in March, 2007. The programme was
implemented in 650 blocks of the country and 67971 women SHGs have been formed
benefiting 9, 89,485 beneficiaries. The scheme came to an end in March 2007. It is
proposed to take up Swayamsidha with a wider scope during the XI Plan. It is also
proposed to implement a womans empowerment and livelihood project in four districts
of Uttar Pradesh and two districts of Bihar with assistance from IFAD. The schemes of
Swayamsidha and Swashakti would be merged and implemented as Swayamsidha, PhaseII in the XI Plan. The MidTerm Appraisal Report of the Tenth Plan has also
recommended merger of these two schemes as these have similar objectives. The next
phase would be a country wide programme with larger coverage in States lagging behind
on women development indices. Convergence is the basic concept in Swayamsiddha. The
lessons learnt in Swayamsiddha and Swa-Shakti would be incorporated in the
universalized Swayamsiddha giving an integrated set of training inputs relating to social
and economic empowerment, including skill development and training in traditional and
non-traditional sectors.The estimated requirement during the XI Plan period for both
phase II of Swayamsidha as well as the IFAD Project is Rs. 3000 crore.

Literature Review:
1. Paper : MGNREGA and its Impact on Daily Waged Women Workers: A Case study
of Sonitpur District of Assam.
By: Kabita Borah, Rimjhim Bordoloi Assistant Professor, Biswanath College
Objective:
The primary purpose of the research paper was to study the impact of MGNREGA on women
empowerment and to identify the obstacles in the path of the implementation of the scheme.
Few selective objectives considered:
a) Studied the impact of MGNREGA programmers on the life of the respondents.
b) Identified the obstacles in the implementation of the scheme.
c) Suggested suitable measures for its effective implementation.
Study Area: Sonitpur District, Assam

Sample Units :
There are 14 blocks in sonitpur district of Assam. A sample of 25%, which account for 4 blocks
was chosen as sample to study( on the basis of demography, location specific feature to give fair
representation of the district).
Primary Data: Structured and unstructured questionnaires/schedules.
Secondary Data: Publications, technical journals,websites, periodicals, bank report
In the region maximum of women population is engaged as labor in household work, house
construction, road construction, shopping complex etc.(Daily age worker)
Result / Findings of the Report:
Increased income: In sonitpur district the total number of women employment increased from
4.68 lakh in 2010-11 to 5.22 lakh in 2011-12. This indicates that the purchasing power capacities
of the women workers have increased.
Consumption Smoothing: From the survey it has been found, a large majority (72 per cent) of
the respondents said that they spent wages earned at MGNREGA works on regular food and
consumer goods. The increased income locally available through MGNREGA work, they felt,
was helping ensure at least two regular meals a day.
Lower Indebtedness: From the survey, 30 per cent of the respondents said that they had spent
their wages on repaying small debts. It also helped them to keep themselves away from the
clutches of local moneylenders. But the amount earned through MGNREGA is not sufficient
to repay debt.
Enriching Literacy: A significant percentage of workers almost 34 per cent spent their
MGNREGA wages on their childrens education. According to 2011 population census, the
female and male literacy rate of sonitpur district is 63.53% and 76.98% respectively. The 2011
Census report of Assam highlighted a sharp rise of about 13 per cent in the female literacy rate.
Improved Healthcare: It was seen that40 per cent of the respondents spent earnings on
healthcare. This act also provides medical facilities, drinking water facilities, fooding to the
workers children etc. during the working hours.
Poverty neutralization: Before implementation of MGNREGA act the standard of living of the
poor people in sonitpur district was miserable. From the collected data it is seen that in 2010-11
the total number of job card issued 2.13 lakh which is increased to 2.22 lakh in 2011-12, again it
further increased to 2.24 lakh in 2012-13 . From this we can say that the numbers of employees

was increased which increased the income of the people. As a result the living condition also
improved as they were able to develop their sanitation facilities, drinking water, nutrition level,
electricity.
Community-Level Effects: Women participation has increased after the implementation of
MGNREGA in many areas. A large number of women workers attended the gram-sabha meeting
held in connection with MGNREGA. Community level empowerment of women is one of the
great achievements of this Act.
Intra-Household Effects: MGNREGA has significant impact in converting unpaid work of
women into paid work and widen the scope of decision making role of women in household
matters. As the wages are paid through formal institutions, the intra-household status of women
increases and they can control cash resources because withdrawn can be made only as per her
own decision.
By giving cash earnings in women's hands, MGNREGA , both increased and diversified the
contributions that women made to household incomes as wage earners.

Major Loopholes in the Existing Scheme

Staff training and administrative set up: Shortage of field staff & impending proposal for
sanction of staff, for approval is a common thing. CAG Report, 2007 has pointed out lack of
dedicated administrative and technical staff for NREGA as the key impediment for procedural
lapses.
Non-availability of Child Care Facilities: Different studies show that certain women do not
accept the job facilities of MGNREGA because of improper child care facilities.

Poor worksite facilities: There is provision of safe drinking water, resting place, changing room,
first aid, recreational facility for children etc. from the MGNREGA fund. From the survey it is
found that other than drinking water facility all other facilities were not available.
Delay in Payments: In case of single women (if they are the main earners in the family) delay
in payments is responsible for low participation of women.
Low level of awareness: In Assam women participation was low because of less awareness
about the programme. Many of the male population had withdrawn from agricultural activities
and joined MGNREGA. This vacated space in agriculture was taken by the women.
Conclusion:
The study reveals that if MGNREGS is scaled higher and executed well, it can defang poverty at
the lowest level as well as it can also empower the poor in the immediate run. The multiplier
analysis has shown the good impact of MGNREGS on incomes, education and economic
upliftment in the study area. From the above analysis it is concluded that the performance of
MGNREGA is still short of the desired levels. Majority of the card holders couldnt get the 100
days of guaranteed job. The scheme also failed in respect of providing employment avenues to
the unemployed on a large scale. But the same achievements couldnt be seen in Assam. The
accrued benefits of women as community can be seen in increased presence in the gram-sabha,
increasing number of women in speaking out in the meetings, etc.
2. Paper : An Impact Assesment Study of the Usefulness & Sustainability of the assets
created under MGNREGA in Sikkim.
Authored by: Institute of Rural Management Anand
The study was conducted in Sikkim after 4 years of MGNERGA implementation from 2006 to
2010. Women participation was 26 , 42, 38, 48 (percent) in the respective years.
Methodolgy of research:
Qualitative and quantitative research has been done, where in data has been collected through
survey from MGNERA benificiaries in 175 gram panchayat units across 4 districts of state
identified with the help of stratified random sampling.Also surveyed 27 Block development
officers and focused discussion with government officials at various levels and case studies.
Findings:
MGNREGA schemes in Sikkim have improved the overall quality of life of women in the state.
The womens overall income generation, economic self reliance, gender main streaming and
overall quality of life saw a major fillip. The participation of women was important and
witnessed across all the levels of the program implementation. There was also more than 100%
increase in the participation of women in the program. Even crucial decisions like distribution of
work in the projects which normally used to be mens domain witnessed participation of women.
It was also a wonderful insight that none of the women had had any exposure to any sort of
employment before. There was also a sense of social and gender equality in the women since the
income generated from the work done by both sexes was the same. Saving money was an
important financial literacy achievement amongst the women because of MNREGA. The
program saw women sharing a stronger and more cohesive bonding between their ilk and were

able to discuss health and general societal awareness issues. MGNREGA also prevented women
folk from working in various exploitative environments. The women as result were now being
viewed as an important decision maker in the family and also as an independent bread earner.
The development work done under MGNREGA brought potable water sources closer to the
villages and it helped the women by preventing them from going long distances to fetch water.
Paper : All India report on evaluation of MGNREGA :ASurvey Of Twenty Districts
Authored by: INSTITUTE OF APPLIED MANPOWER RESEARCH
Methodology:
Twenty districts from the first lot of 200 districts were selected for studying
the beneficiary level impact and responses. These 20 districts are spreading
throughout the country covering 16 states from all the regions. Selection of
these districts is done by using the secondary data of districts for the year
2006-07 placed in the NREG website. State averages were calculated based
on man-days and job cards issued. Two districts, one above and one below
the state average were selected from each state in all the regions except
western region where the district data was not available. Wherever the data
is available, two districts from each state were selected and more weightage
in selection of districts is given to eastern region by selecting 7 districts
where there is severe out-migration from this region. List of districts selected
for the study is given at Annexure I.
From each district two blocks were selected in consultation with the district
officials concerned and from each block, three gram panchayats were
selected for canvassing the schedules. In every GP, 50 beneficiaries were
selected on random selection basis from the list of job card
holders/beneficiaries
available.
Thus in every district 300 beneficiaries were targeted covering 6000
beneficiaries spreading throughout the country.
The all-India survey report presents the response received from the
beneficiaries of the scheme pertaining to the period 2006-07. The
information collected is grouped into the following sections such as
11. Household details
2. Mechanism of job card registration
3. Issue of job card
4. Registration & application for job (work)
5. Impact on Wages, Income and Quality of Life
6. Impact on out-migration
Household Details
Table-1.1: District wise Distribution of Head of the Household by Sex and Social Group

S.No.

Districts

Northern
Region
1 Barabanki
2 Sonbhadra
3 Sirsa
4 Karauli
Sub-Total
Eastern
Region
5 Munger
6 Kishenganj
7 Sambalpur
8 Sundergarh
9 Gumla
10 Ranchi
11 Malda
Sub-Total
Western
Region
12 Dahod
13 Jhabua
14 Bhandara
15 Bilaspur
Sub-Total
Southern
Region
16 Devangere
17 Medak
18 Palakkad
Sub-Total
North-East
Region
19 North
Lakhimpur
20 South Garo
Hills
Sub-Total
Grand
Total

Social Group
ST
OBC
Female Male Female

Male

SC
Female

Male

169
60
100
51
380

0
8
74
46
128

0
120
0
40
160

0
50
0
40
90

106
53
77
51
287

1
8
6
46
61

23
1
30
16
70

1
0
13
7
21

298
234
207
158
897

2
66
93
139
300

103
34
37
13
2
13
89
291

5
1
10
10
0
5
4
35

32
28
129
126
241
211
151
918

4
2
51
108
34
39
28
266

121
33
41
15
9
12
22
253

4
3
8
13
3
14
0
45

31
188
24
8
9
4
6
270

0
11
0
7
2
2
0
22

287
283
231
162
261
240
268
1732

13
17
69
138
39
60
32
368

1
0
40
16
57

9
0
8
5
22

201
158
0
223
582

18
142
6
15
181

0
0
183
25
208

0
0
27
3
30

69
0
31
13
113

2
0
5
0
7

271
158
254
277
960

29
142
46
23
240

68
79
14
161

29
66
66
161

35
2
30
67

24
0
40
64

28
42
22
92

15
84
93
192

81
20
14
115

20
7
21
48

212
143
80
435

88
157
220
465

19

88

91

94

292

232

61

235

65

20
909

3
349

320
2047

61
662

91
931

8
336

96
664

1
98

527
4551

73
1446

Note: SC - Scheduled
Caste
ST - Scheduled Tribe
OBC - Other Backword Class
Source : IAMR Survey,
2007.

General
Male Female

Total
Male Female

Table 4.8 : District wise Distribution Pertaining to Implementation

of Women Quota in Work Allotment
S.No

1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8
9
10
11

12
13
14
15

16
17
18

19
20

Districts
Northern Region
Barabanki
Sonbhadra
Sirsa
Karauli
Sub-Total
Eastern Region
Munger
Kishenganj
Sambalpur
Sundergarh
Gumla
Ranchi
Malda
Sub-Total
Western Region
Dahod
Jhabua
Bhandara
Bilaspur
Sub-Total
Southern Region
Devangere
Medak
Palakkad
Sub-Total
North-East Region
North Lakhimpur
South Garo Hills
Sub-Total
Grand Total

Source : IAMR Survey, 2007

Findings & impact

Share of Women in the Work Allocation

<33%
33% 33% No Response Total
300
23
0
16
339

0
277
300
33
610

0
0
0
248
248

0
0
0
271
0

300
300
300
297
1197

0
0
0
60
32
55
72
219

29
36
158
263
232
93
811

0
0
0
82
5
0
135
222

271
264
0
0
13
13
548

300
300
300
300
300
300
300
2100

300
0
0
0
300

0
300
300
300
900

0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0

300
300
300
300
1200

78
57
0
135

99
97
0
196

123
146
300
569

0
0
0
0

300
300
300
900

300
0
300
1293

0
0
0
2517

0
300
300
1339

0
0
0
548

300
300
600
5997

Female-headed household participation in the works is very encouraging ranging from 12 to 52

percent. Though the scheme envisages at least one-third of the total person-days to be earmarked
for women participants, it is too early to judge on this point since the effective time duration of
the scheme in these 20 districts is uneven and in some cases the scheme hardly taken off.
It was found that only in 42 percent households, the women could share the 1/3rd of the allocated
person-days (wage days ). However, in 22 percent of the households, the women folk did utilize
more than one-third of the utilized person-days in the household.