Women Entrepreneuers A Growing and Promising Face in Indian Businesses

Download as doc, pdf, or txt
Download as doc, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 6

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: A GROWING AND PROMISING FACE

IN INDIAN BUSINESSES
Mr.V.P.Sriram 1 Mr.K.Durai 2

Abstract
Women constitute around half of the total population. So is in India, they are therefore,
regarded as the better half of the society. In traditional societies, they were confined to the
four walls of houses performing household activities. In Modern societies they have come out
of the four walls to participate in all sorts of activities. The global evidences buttress that
women have been performing exceedingly well in different spheres of activities like
academics, politics, administration, social work and so on. Now, they have started plunging
into industry also and running their enterprises successfully. Therefore while discussing on
entrepreneurial development; it seems in the fitness of the context to briefly discuss about the
development of Women Entrepreneurs in the country.

Key words: Entrepreneurship, Women Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship Development etc.

Mr.V.P.Sriram MBA.(PhD), Assistant Professor, Department of Business Administration, KALASALINGAM


UNIVERSITY Anand Nagar, Krishnankoil-626190, Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu, India
Email:
[email protected].
2

Mr.K.Durai MBA., Assistant Professor, Department of Business Administration, , KALASALINGAM


UNIVERSITY Anand Nagar, Krishnankoil-626190, Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu, India
Email:
[email protected]

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: A GROWING AND PROMISING FACE


IN INDIAN BUSINESSES
Introduction
During the last few decades, Indian Women have entered the field of entrepreneurship in
increasing numbers. With the emergence and growth of their businesses, they have
contributed to the Indian economy and society. It is estimated that presently women
entrepreneurs comprise about 10% of the total entrepreneurs in India. It is also clear that this
percentage is growing every year. If prevailing trends continue, it is not unlikely that in
another five years, women will comprise 20% of the entrepreneurial force in India. It is
perhaps for these reasons that government bodies, NGOs, Social Scientists, Researchers and
International Agencies have started showing interest in the issues relating to entrepreneurship
among women in India.
Following are some interesting facts on status of women in modern India:

India has the worlds largest number of professionally qualified women.

India has more female doctors, surgeons, scientisits and professors than the United States.

India has more working women than any other country in the world. This includes female
workers at all levels of skill from the surgeon and the airline pilot to bus conductors and
menial labourers.

Growth of Women Entrepreneurship


Women in India constitute half of the Countrys population. Hence, they are regarded as the
better half of the society. In the official Proclamation, they are at par with men. But in real
life, the truth prevails otherwise. Our Society is still male dominated and women are not
treated as equal partners both inside and outside four walls of the house. In fact they are
treated as abla, i.e., weak and dependent on men. As such, the Indian women enjoy a
disadvantages status in the society. Let some facts given that much low literacy rate (40%),
low work participation rate (28%) and low urban population share (10%) of women as
compared to 60%, 52% and 18% respectively of their male counterparts well confirm their
disadvantageous position in the society. Our age-old socio-cultural and taboos arresting the
women with in the four walls of their houses also make their conditions more

disadvantageous. These factors combinedly serve as non-conductive conditions for the


emergence and development of women entrepreneurship in the country. Given these
unfavourable conditions, the development of women entrepreneurship is expectedly low in
the country. This is well indicated by a dismally low level of women (5.2%) in total self
employed persons in the country (C.B.Gupta and S.S.Kanka, 1996). Further, women
entrepreneurs in India accounted for 9.01% of the total 1.70 million entrepreneurs during
1988-1989 (Vasant Desai, 1992).
A cross-country comparison reveals that emergence and development of entrepreneurship is
largely caused by the availability of supporting conditions in a country. To quote, with
improving supporting conditions, the share of women owned enterprises in the United States
has risen from 7.1% in 1977 to 32% in 1990. It is likely to reach 50% by the turn of the 20 th
century.
In India, women entry into business is a new phenomenon. Women entry into business or say,
entrepreneurship is traced out as an extension of their kitchen activities mainly to 3Ps, viz.,
Pickles, Powder and Pappad. Women in India plunged into business for both pull and push
factors. Pull factors imply the factors which encourage women to start an occupation or
venture with an urge to do something independently. Push factors refers to those factors
which compel women to take up their own business tide over their economic difficulties and
responsibilities. With growing awareness about business and spread of education among
women over the period, women have started shifting from 3Ps to engross 3 modern Es, viz.,
Engineering, Electronics and Energy. They have excelled in these activities. Women
entrepreneurs manufacturing solar cookers in Gujarat small foundaries in Maharashtra and
T.V Capacitors in Orissa have proved beyond doubt that given the opportunities, they can
excel their male counterparts. Smt.Sumati Morarji (Shipping Corporation), Smt. Yamutai
Kirloskar (Mahila Udayog Limited), Smt. Neena Malhotra (Exports) and Smt. Shahnaz
Hussain (Beauty Clinc) are some exemplary names of successful and accomplished women
entrepreneurs in our country.

National Level Standing Committee for Women Entrepreneurs:


A National Level Standing Committee on Women Entrepreneurs was constituted under the
chairmanship of the ministry of state for sports, Youth Affairs, Women and Child Welfare to
look into problems of Women Entrepreneurs and evolve policies for promotion of

entrepreneurship among women in the country. The Committee is represented by all agencies
connected with the entrepreneurship development, women entrepreneurs and officials. The
Committee has evolved certain policies for the promotion of entrepreneurship amongst
women. The Committee has also recommended a definition on women entrepreneurs and
officials, which has been subsequently adopted by small scale industries board. A Women cell
has also been functioning in the office of the DC (SSI) to attend to the problems faced by
them and to provide necessary liaison. A Model syllabus has been developed for conducting
exclusive programmes for women under different categories including tiny units.

Government Support to Women Entrepreneurs:


The Following are the various schemes and funding support provided by the government to
the women entrepreneurs.
1.

Seed Capital Scheme

2. National Equity Fund


3. Prime Ministers employment guarantee scheme
4. Women Industries Fund Scheme
5. Single Window Scheme
6. Joint loan scheme
7. Subsidy on Interest scheme

Institutional Support to Women Entrepreneurs:


The Federation of Indian Women Entrepreneurs (FIWE) has come into being following
the decision taken at the 4th International Conference of Women Entrepreneurs held in
December 1993 at Hyderabad (India). It was felt that the womens wing of National Alliance
of Young entrepreneurs (NAYE) should convert itself in to an autonomous national level
women entrepreneurs organization whose main function should be networking and to
provide package of services to the association of women entrepreneurs in different parts of
the country. Association of Women Entrepreneurs in various districts and states will be
affiliated to it so that they can avail various facilities and services which will be provided to
Women Entrepreneurs in India.

Suggestions for improving the Status of Women Entrepreneurs:


Robert.D.Hisrich (2009) has suggested six ways to help women Entrepreneurs to
successfully develop and manage new enterprises.
1. Acquire some experience in dealing with money: By applying some loan and
repaying it back if not required, filing tax returns, managing the finances for family,
obtain book keeping experience etc.,
2. Conduct honest self-appraisal to identify the strength and the weak areas, seek
family and friends help for the same.
3. Gain Occupational work experience: Rotate to various job profiles to gain
experiences of marketing, finance, planning.
4. Prioritizing responsibilities: Identify and delegate responsibilities at home and in
business, organize and prioritize work.
5. Establish a Support System: A Strong Network of family, friends, clients, business
associates should be established.
6. Be Determined and Professional: In the Business is also very important; it helps in
gaining respect and confidence from employees, customers, financiers and other
professional associates.

Conclusion:
Thus the modern trend shows that women join hands in enhancing the income of the family.
In turn it also changes their personality and living standards. The role of Women entrepreneur
in economic development is inevitable. Now-a-days women enter not only in selected
professions but also in professions like trade, industry and engineering. Women are also
willing to take up business and contribute to the Nation's growth. There role is also being
recognized and steps are being taken to promote women entrepreneurship. Resurgence of
entrepreneurship is the need of the hour. Women entrepreneurship must be moulded properly
with entrepreneurial traits and skills to meet the changes in trends, challenges global markets
and also be competent enough to sustain and strive for excellence in the entrepreneurial
arena.

References
1. C.B.Gupta and S.S.Khanka (1996),

Entrepreneurship and Small Business

Management, Sultan Chand and Sons, Delhi. (p.110).


2. Vasant Desai (1992), Dynamics of Entrepreneurial Development and Management,
Himalaya Publishing House, Bombay. (p.132)
3. Madhurima Lall and Shikha Sahai (2008), Entrepreneurship, Excel Books, New
Delhi.
4. Robert.D.Hisrich (2009), Michael.P.Peters and Dean.A.Shepherd, Entrepreneurship,
Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi.
5. www.entrepreneur.com

You might also like