If data released by Jharkhand MNREGA Commissioner is to believed, a sharp increase in the number of women workers has been recorded in the past three years.
“This is helping in securing economic independence for women”, states a press release issued by the state government’s Information and Public Relation Department.
“A major portion of the women who benefit under this scheme are single, destitute or abandoned women. While for the year 2019-20 the percentage of women workers was 41.31%, it increased to 42.56% in the year 2020-2021, 45.58% in 2021-22 and currently stands at 47.1% in 2022-23”, states the same report.
The state government claims that its efforts have generated 9 crore man-days so far.The report adds:
“In order to strengthen the economic conditions of the rural pockets of the state 900 lakh man-days have been provided so far in the financial year 2022-23 under MGNREGA. At the same time, during the COVID-19 pandemic period the state government created 1150 lakh man-days in the year 2020-21 and 1105 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.”
“Work done under MGNREGA has made significant contributions in the completion of construction work in the state. Through Jharkhand MGNREGA, 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 works were completed, while 4,96,723 in 2020-21, 5,38,759 in 2021-22 and 5,27,368 in 2022-23 have been completed so far.”
“Under MGNREGA efforts are being made to secure both the lives and livelihoods of people. Under the directions of the Hon’ble Chief Minister work that is being created is in accordance with the villagers. The participation of women has also increased. The effort of the government is to generate maximum man-days.”