1. NREG and Women Ratna M. Sudarshan Director, Institute of Social Studies Trust, New Delhi 23 June 2006, IHD Seminar

2. Outcomes expected from the EGA  As per the operational guidelines for the NREGA, the outcomes expected include an increase in employment and purchasing power participation of women workforce strengthening of rural infrastructure through creation of durable assets regeneration of natural resources that provide the livelihood resource base of local rural economy increase in productivity reduction in distress migration.

3. Experience with MEGS and Women (Jain 1979, Datar 1987, Krishnaraj 2004)  Evaluations have noted that The level of participation by womenhigher than that of men in most observations.  Unskilled, short term, discontinuous work – more women are casual/ subsidiary workers – hence seen as ‘women’s work’ Wages received by women  Lack of awareness about norms and wage schedules, depends on the gang leader, depends on specific activity being done and existing norms for payment of that activity The nature of the works supported through the programme, and the tasks undertaken by women  Women allocated to unskilled tasks; no evidence that they played any part in deciding what works could be undertaken

4. Experience with MEGS and Women (Jain 1979, Datar 1987, Krishnaraj 2004) Skills present or acquired  Skilled workers did not go to EGS works Reproductive work burdens and possible impact on participation in EGA works  Majority were 30-35 (DJ); women from landless as well as landowning classes (Datar); time spent on reproductive work flexible (DJ) Potential for mobilisation of workers  Opportunity for mobilisation  Greater participation by those already part of organisation (DJ)

5. Meeting ‘practical’ and ‘strategic’ needs Participation by women that is ‘empowering’ would require  Participation itself cannot always be seen to be positive; what work, on what terms, are equal wages paid, equal awareness of men and women  Conditions of work - child care, water and toilet facilities, suitable timings – which would increase the time and energy available to women for paid work  Strengthening existing skills and/or acquiring new skills, essential if the programme is to be more than just a dole  Corruption free implementation, without which trust cannot be obtained and older patterns of work will continue to persist  Participation in planning, projects that address women’s needs, if our objective is sustainable and gender sensitive development outcomes

6. ISST baseline surveys Feb – May 2006 (study sponsored by the ILO) Partners: Doosra Dashak, Rajasthan; THREAD, Orissa; SEWA, MP. Observed in Abu Road, Sirohi district, that In the sample studied, the number of eligible men and women were roughly equal; however the workers on site were mostly women (estimated that in Rajasthan 70-80 % of workers on EGA works are women). As household strategy it is women that are being sent to EGA work sites. What are the implications? For work burdens, Child care, Care of elderly, Livestock, Fetching water……Can this be ‘empowering’? Wages Rs 38-40 per day as against minimum wage of Rs 73 in Rajasthan; the basis of payment is not clear to workers; schedule of rates needs revision, and given wide publicity.

7. Observations ISST 2006 Majority of sample (Rajasthan, MP, Orissa) expressed preference for payment partly in cash and partly in food. Food security an issue? Greater control by women? Payment through bank accounts in the name of the head of household as proposed in Karnataka (80% heads in sample male) may mean that women have no direct access to their earnings.

8. Observations ISST 2006 High illiteracy among adult women + large proportion of children out of school; implying that information is unlikely to reach women unless methods of verbal communication are emphasized Approx 50 % population is under the age of 18: high proportion of children out of school implies illiterate future work force. Can EGA address this directly? Convergence across programmes?

9. Some actions suggested by initial observations: Information – important to communicate verbally in addition to placing all information in writing in the public domain Mobilisation of women as a strategy to ensure that their participation extends to planning and the choice of works to be undertaken Child care and schooling/ literacy emerge as prominent gaps calling for action – although precise way of providing this may need to be different from place to place Whatever method of payment is used, must ensure that it reaches women Consider food + cash (not universally, but in some places) Clarity re schedule of rates: system must be simple, understood by workers