Women participation in the flagship rural job scheme MGNREGA has clocked around 51% this financial year, which was the maximum in the last three years, Lok Sabha was told on Thursday.
In a written reply in the House, Rural Development Minister Birender Singh said the participation of women in MGNREGA in 2015-16 has increased in comparison to last three years.
A total of 331.18 lakh women participated in MGNREGA till March 7 this year, which is 50.94% of the total 650.14 lakh persons having participated in the rural job scheme in 2015-16, as per the figures given by the Rural Development Ministry.
In 2012-13, a total of 797.34 lakh persons participated in the scheme of whom 374.97 lakh were women, constituting 47.03%.
In 2013-14, 738.90 lakh persons took part in the programme and the number of women was 354.48 lakh, accounting for 47.97%.
In 2014-15, a total of 621.69 lakh people participated in the programme, of whom women 312.26 lakh, constituting 50.23%.
State-wise figures show that Puducherry tops the list in women representation in MGNREGA. 85.07% of the total participation in MGNREGA in the state is that of women this year while it was 85.57% in the last financial year.
Women also outnumbered men in Andhra Pradesh in MGNREGA participation. Women participation was 54.64% in 2012-13, 54.84% in 2013-14, 54.03% in 2014-15 and 53.54% in this financial year so far.
