Dalit Women Empowerment through Entrepreneurship: A Case of Coimbatore District

Abstract

This paper is based on an empirical research conducted in the Coimbatore district. Coimbatore constitutes 19.44 percent as per 2011 census. The study reveals that 16.54 percent to the respondents have become entrepreneurs. However, their process of modernization has not broken the bond of caste–occupation, but certainly the modernization of their traditional hereditary occupations is taking place. The scheduled caste groups have found opportunities of mobility not only in their age old occupations but have also ventured into some other entrepreneurial activities which earlier were in the reserve of higher castes. Therefore, it is predominantly the better off amongst the scheduled castes who have become business and industrial entrepreneurs. The explorations into their background reveal that they are young, educated and largely the natives of the place. The study reveals that through entrepreneurship the scheduled castes have empowered themselves in the political and social spheres. The study explores the type, extent, nature and performance of their entrepreneurial activities and how through entrepreneurship they have empowered themselves economically, socially and politically.