International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Role of Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana in Empowering Rural Agrarian Women

In India, a large proportion of the population engages in agricultural practices. According to the agricultural census 2015-16, female operational land holding is 13.96% which is highest under the marginal category (72%) followed by the small (17%) and semi-medium (8.1%). This shows that more than 95% of female operational land holdings are less than 4 hectares of land. The Mahila Kisan Shashaktikarna Pariyojana (MKSP) was introduced in 2011 as an independent livelihood initiative targeting agrarian women under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM). This paper explores the role of MKSP in enhancing the participation and productivity of women in agriculture. It examines the various components of the program, including capacity building, access to resources, and market linkages. The paper also analyzes the impact of MKSP on women's livelihoods, their decision-making power within households, and their overall empowerment. The research provides an overview of MKSP and its potential in promoting gender equality and sustainable agriculture in rural India. The methodology involves collecting primary data by Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) with case studies and secondary data from the government reports and existing papers on women’s role in agriculture and rural development examined to contextualise MKSP within the broader empowerment of rural agrarian women. The universe for the research is the Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh. Keywords: Mahila Kisan Shashaktikarna Pariyojana (MKSP), Rural Development, Livelihood, Women empowerment, Agrarian Women