Are WomenEmpowered Through Participation in Development Projects?

Abstract

This thesis investigates the intersection of women's empowerment and participation in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) program in rural India. Using qualitative research methods, including interviews and field observations, the study investigates how women participate in MGNREGA activities and how much of their participation leads to empowerment. The research outlines the economic, social, and political components of empowerment and examines the factors that promote or hinder women's empowerment in the framework of MGNREGA. The results indicate that even if NREGA offers opportunities for social participation and economic independence, structural barriers including gender discrimination and a lack of decision-making authority still prevent women from achieving full empowerment. The study emphasizes how critical it is to address these issues in order to improve the efficacy of MGNREGA in promoting women's empowerment and advancing gender equality in rural India.