Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar, Jun 6: Tackling women unemployment in rural Jammu and Kashmir, as many as 563485 women have been granted employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in the last five years.
The department has spent over 1100 crore under the scheme for giving employment to these 563485 women. Last year alone, 283476 women were given employment under MGNREGA, generating 8534744 person-days, including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The data reveals an increase in funds allocated for women’s employment, with a steady rise from 178 crores in 2019-20 to 208 crores in 2023-24. This sustained investment has had a transformative impact on the lives of women in Jammu and Kashmir.
It has provided them with financial security, empowered them to make decisions for their families, and instilled a sense of self-reliance and dignity.
The scheme prioritizes projects that directly benefit women, such as construction of sanitation facilities, water conservation initiatives, and agricultural development programs.
These projects not only create jobs but also address critical needs in rural communities.
“MGNREGA has been a game-changer for me and my family. I am now able to contribute to my household income and have even saved enough to send my children to school,” said Shameema Begum, a resident of Budgam district who has been working under the program for the past three years.
Similarly, Sara Begum, a resilient woman from one of the remote villages of Kupwara, found herself struggling to run her household due to limited eco- nomic opportunities.
However, her life took a positive turn when she became a beneficiary of the MGNREGA employment program. Through this initiative, she gained access to meaningful employment that not only provided her with a steady income but also instilled a sense of empowerment and dignity. “Now, I am not just contributing to my family’s income,” Sara said.
The MGNREGA, a flagship program by the Government of India, guaran- tees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to rural households.
