Pankaj Jain, Jan. 29 -- Women's participation in rural employment has increased steadily from 48 per cent in FY14 to 58.1 per cent in FY25, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26 tabled in Parliament on Wednesday by union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The Survey said rural employment has remained a key pillar of India's social protection framework for nearly two decades. Since its launch in 2005, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) has provided wage employment, stabilised rural incomes and created basic infrastructure by offering up to 100 days of guaranteed unskilled work to rural households.
Over the years, rising incomes, better connectivity, wider digital adoption and ...