Author : R.

Latha
Department of Management Studies,
Sapthagiri College of Engineering
 Entrepreneurship is necessary to initiate the process of
economic development of both developed and
developing countries.
It is also instrumental in sustaining the process of
economic development.
Every country tries to achieve economic development
for prosperity and better life to people.
So, contribution of both men and women is essential in
economic activities for healthy nation building.
 But in India, women have to face many constraints in
carrying out economic activities or undertaking any
entrepreneurial work.
Women have to face various socio-economic and other
problems as entrepreneurs as they are not treated at
par with men due to social and cultural traditions.
In recent years, it is observed that there has been
increasing trend in number of women enterprises in
India as the result of changing scenario of the present
world.
 The term entrepreneur has been derived from the
French word entreprendre means to undertake. The
term entrepreneur may be defined as an entrepreneur
is a person who combines capital and labour for
production.
A "women entrepreneur" is any women who
organizes and manages any enterprise, esp. a
business, usually with considerable initiative and
risk.
 Sharp
Communication
Skills

Motivated
Decision Making
&
Capabilities
Self Directed

Characteristics of
Women Entrepreneurs

Good
Interpersonal Innovative
Skills
 FIRST CATEGORY
Established in big cities.
Having higher technical qualifications.
Sound financial positions.

SECOND CATEGORY
Established in cities and towns.
Having sufficient education.
Undertaking women services- kinder garden, crches, beauty parlours,
etc.

THIRD CATEGORY
Illiterate Women.
Financially week.
Involved in family business like agriculture, dairy, handlooms,
horticulture etc.
 Self Identity Need For
Innovative Role Model to
and Social Additional
Thinking Others
Status Income

Support of
Education and New
Family Self Fulfilment
Qualification Challenges
Members

Freedom to Success Stories Government

Employment
Take Own of Friends and Policies and
Generation
Decision Relatives Procedures
 Womens family and personal obligations are sometimes a
great barrier for succeeding in business career. Only few
women are able to manage both home and business
efficiently, devoting enough time to perform all their
responsibilities in priority.
The educational level and family backgrounds of husband
also influences women participation in the field of
enterprise.
Absence of proper support, cooperation and back-up for
women by their own family members and the outside world
people force them to drop the idea of excelling in the
enterprise field. They are always making many pessimistic
feelings to be aroused in their minds and making them feel
that family and not business is a place meant for them.
 Many women take the training by attending the Entrepreneurial
Development programme without an entrepreneurial bent of
mind. Women who are imparted training by various institutes
must be verified on account of aptitude through the tests,
interviews, etc.
High production cost of some business operations adversely
affects the development of women entrepreneurs. The
installations of new machineries during expansion of the
productive capacity and like similar factors discourage the women
entrepreneurs from venturing into new areas.
Lack of awareness about the financial assistance in the form of
incentives, loans, schemes etc. by the institutions in the financial
sector. So the sincere efforts taken towards women entrepreneurs
may not reach the entrepreneurs in rural and backward areas.
 Non-
Availability
of Finance
Less Production
Confidence Problem

Socio- Lack of
cultural Managerial
Disturbance Skills

CHALLENGES
FACED BY
WOMEN
ENTREPRENEURS
Competition
from Male Lack of
Entrepreneur Knowledge
s

Lack of
Low Level of
Education
Risk Taking
and
Attitude
Awareness
Mobility
Constraint
At present, the Government of India has over 27 schemes
for women operated by different departments and
ministries.
Some of these are:
Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)
Khadi And Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
Training of Rural Youth for Self-Employment (TRYSEM)
Prime Ministers Rojgar Yojana (PMRY)
Entrepreneurial Development programme (EDPs)
Management Development progammes
 Womens Development Corporations (WDCs)
Marketing of Non-Farm Products of Rural Women (MAHIMA)
Assistance to Rural Women in Non-Farm Development
(ARWIND) schemes
Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development
(TREAD)
Working Womens Forum
Indira Mahila Yojana
Indira Mahila Kendra
Mahila Samiti Yojana
Mahila Vikas Nidhi
 Micro Credit Scheme
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh
SIDBIs Mahila Udyam Nidhi
Mahila Vikas Nidhi
SBIs Stree Shakti Scheme
NGOs Credit Schemes
Micro & Small Enterprises Cluster Development
Programmes (MSE-CDP).
National Banks for Agriculture and Rural Developments
Schemes
 Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana (RGMVP)
Priyadarshini Project- A programme for Rural Women
Empowerment and Livelihood in Mid Gangetic Plains
NABARD- KFW-SEWA Bank project
Exhibitions for women, under promotional package for
Micro & Small enterprises approved by CCEA under
marketing support
 Women, being almost 50% population of India, have
a pivotal role to play as far as economic
development of country is concerned.
The Government has increased the importance of
women by adopting various schemes and programs
for their participation in economic activities.
The Indian society is shifting from conservative
attitude to progressive attitude. So, women are
getting more opportunities not only in
entrepreneurial work but also in other domains of
human life.
 Women should be encouraged to take the benefits
of policy measures introduced by the Government
to promote the status and level of women
entrepreneurs in the country.
Increased support should be provided by the
Government to help women entrepreneurs in order
to overcome the challenges faced by them.
Women entrepreneurs also require support from
their family and society. They should be provided
easy financial help without putting unrealistic
conditions by banks and financial institutions.
 If women entrepreneurs get support and
encouragement from family, society, Government
and financial institutions, such positive effort can
open new avenues for them and increase the
marketability and profitability of business owned by
them.
If the problems of women entrepreneurs are
addressed properly, they can emerge as very
successful entrepreneurs far better than men
entrepreneurs.