Employment Guarantee for Women in India: Evidence on Participation and Rationing in the MGNREGA from the National Sample Survey

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which guarantees
employment of every rural household for 100 days, has different progressive provisions which
incentivise higher participation of women in the programme. Official data suggest that 47% of all
MGNREGA workers are women. This paper uses the National Sample Survey for the 68th
employment-unemployment round (2011-12) to examine the performance of states in terms of
participation and rationing of women in the programme relative to that of men. In addition, it
documents these indicators from various sub-populations of women, including widows, mothers of
young children, etc. who typically face serious constraints in the context of labour market
participation. The study finds substantial variations both across states and sub populations implying the
need for a differentiated policy focus across states to support women's access to and participation in the
MGNREGA.