dna edit: Gains from women at work

There is hope for kids growing up in poverty, thanks to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). According to a study conducted by the NGO Young Lives, increased participation of mothers in the government’s flagship programme in Andhra Pradesh has led to children spending more time in schools.

The findings once again reiterate the benefits of empowering women financially. A working mother not only contributes to the household income, but earns a greater say in running the family. She is way better than the man since her primary focus is the well being of the family members.        

Another heartening aspect of the study is the fact that these mothers don’t discriminate against the girl child — she too is attending school with her brothers.

The centre should encourage more women to be part of this scheme as the consequences are far-reaching. According to an Oxford University study published in 2010, “55 per cent of India’s population of 1.1 billion, or 645 million people, are living in poverty.” The government has claimed at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in April this year that it will bring down the percentage of the BPL population to 26.7 by 2015 with the MGNREGA. But without women being the prime beneficiaries, it can never hope to achieve this formidable challenge. Moreover, as Andhra Pradesh has shown, this would also result in eradicating illiteracy. Imagine the other benefits that come with education such as a sharp decrease in female foeticide and dowry-deaths, and a bigger pool of skilled workers.

However, if the government wants to attract the women workforce, it should take into consideration a couple of things. For example, more women can benefit from these schemes during the agriculturally-lean months as they also work in the fields as farm hands.

There should be more creche-like facilities in villages to take care of infants when the mother is away at work. If she knows her child is secure in a school or a day-care centre, her productivity will increase manifold.