Rural women’s empowerment and livelihood security in India are shaped by a combination of
gendered aspects of work participation, access to finance, and agency in household and
community decisions. Recent data show measurable gains along with sharp state-level
differences in this aspect. With respect to livelihood, national data shows that women’s
economic participation has strengthened in recent years. According to the Periodic Labour Force
Survey (PLFS) 2023-24, female Labour Force Participation rate (LFPR, usual status, age
15+) stands at 41.7 per cent, and the female Worker Population Ratio (WPR) stands at 40.3 per
cent, reflecting a major rise compared to previous rounds (PIB, 2024). The rural female
LFPR increased considerably between 2017-18 and 2023-24, showing rural labour markets,
public works, and allied activities have been important spaces for women’s income
generation (PIB, 2024).
Across states, empowerment and livelihood pathways vary because economic structure,
social norms, and programme reach differ widely. According to the PLFS pattern, female
LFPR has increased in most states, with rural areas witnessing major gains, such as
Rajasthan and Jharkhand have shown a strong increase in participation in recent evaluations
(EACPM, 2024). At the same time, evidence from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5)
2019-21, shows state-level disparities in women’s empowerment indicators such as agency,
decision-making, and related indicators, highlighting that an increase in one indicator (work)
may not always match improvements in another (autonomy) (Vignitha, 2024). Empowerment
is not only about entering work, but it is also about control over earnings, mobility, and decision-making-
making. The recent NFHS 5 data show that a large share of women participate in key
household decisions, which often serve as a proxy for agency, yet gaps persist in financial
autonomy. For example, it points out that many women still lack independent control over
spending their own money, with the constraints being more evident in rural areas,
highlighting that income does not always translate into bargaining power (Mitra et al., 2024).
Within these contradicting scenarios, Self-Help Groups (SHG) have proved to be a major
institutional driver of rural women’s livelihood under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana –
National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), which supports savings, credit linkage,
livelihood training, and collective strength. This programme has played a crucial role in
expanding women’s access to formal finance and livelihood opportunities. The latest data
from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) suggests a positive trend: more rural women are
participating in employment and livelihood systems, while institutional platforms such as
SHGs are also growing. However, empowerment remains uneven across states and social
groups, and the next policy push must focus not only on jobs but also on quality work, secure
incomes, skill development, and improved financial and social agency.
Abhimanyu Singh Thakur
Research Scholar, Sociology