Work, Wages, and Women’s Autonomy: Panchayat-Level Insights into the Economic Impact of Rural development in rural India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53983/ijmds.v15n03.009Keywords:
Rural Development, Financial Independence, Women Empowerment, MGNREGA, Self Help Group (SHGs), PuruliaAbstract
Economic stability in rural regions is essential for inclusive and sustainable development, particularly in drought-prone areas where livelihood vulnerability and gender inequality persist. Women’s economic empowerment significantly improves household welfare, as women tend to invest a larger share of their income in children’s education, nutrition, and family well-being. This study examines women’s financial independence and empowerment through participation in rural development schemes in the drought-prone Purulia Sadar subdivision. The study aims (i) to construct a Composite Financial Independence and Empowerment Index (FIEI) using standardized indicators and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) weightages to measure economic and social impacts, and (ii) to assess socio-economic and spatial variations across Panchayats and identify determinants shaping income gains, financial inclusion, and empowerment outcomes. Primary data were collected from 395 respondents across 13 Panchayats using purposive random sampling. Results show that participation in financial decision-making averages 35.57 (SD = 6.25), while financial independence averages 50.58 (SD = 9.95), indicating moderate progress toward autonomy. Higher empowerment scores are observed in Manara (0.528), Ghongha (0.641), Lakhanpur (0.489), and Ghatbera-Kerowa (0.548). The Kruskal–Wallis test (H = 10.52, p = 0.0052) confirms significant inter-Panchayat disparities. The findings highlight the need for targeted, Panchayat-level interventions to strengthen women’s financial empowerment.
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