The proportion of women workers participating in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has increased in Jharkhand.

“It has been a regular trend since the last three years ever since the creation of Hemant Soren government in the state with a number of women workers in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) works in rural areas witnessing an increase,” stated a release issued by the chief minister’s secretariat.

“This is helping in securing economic independence for women. A major portion of the women who benefit under this scheme is single, destitute, or abandoned women,” the release added.

While during 2019-20 the percentage of women workers in MGNREGS was 41.31, it increased to 42.56 per cent in 2020-2021, 45.58 per cent in 2021-22, and currently stands at 47.1 per cent in 2022-23.

“This increase was witnessed despite the spate of lockdowns in the Covid pandemic period. It happened as the jobs selection under MGNREGA was done in consultation with villagers in line with their requirement,” said a senior official in the rural development department in Ranchi.

In order to strengthen the economic conditions of the rural pockets of the state around 900 lakh man-days have been provided so far in the financial year 2022-23 under MGNREGA.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic period, the state government created 1,150 lakh man-days in the year 2020-21 and 1,105 lakh man-days were created in the year 2021-22 to secure the livelihood of the villagers. So, that both the life and livelihood of people could be safeguarded,” said an official with the state rural development department.

Data accessed from rural development point out that MGNREGS has made significant contributions to the completion of construction work in the state. Through MGNREGS in Jharkhand not only has there been an increase in man-days, but progress has also been registered in the completion of construction work in the last three years.

“In 2019-20, 3,53,275 rural infrastructure works were completed, while 4,96,723 were completed in 2020-21, 5,38,759 works in 2021-22 and 5,27,368 works have been completed so far in the ongoing 2022-23 period,” the official said.

“Under MGNREGS efforts are being made to secure both the lives and livelihoods of people. We have ensured that the work that is being created and selected is in accordance with the villager’s needs and demands. It is heartening to witness the increased participation of women. The effort of the government is to generate maximum man-days,” said state MGNREGA commissioner, Rajeshwari B.