Small Business Endeavours by Women in a Rural Scenario: Case Studies from Three Villages Near Santiniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal

Abstract

The small business endeavours initiated by the women folk have earned a significant place in literature of women, rural and entrepreneurial studies. Many scholars have explained the plights faced by women in continuing small rural endeavours. Despite of the problems faced by women in terms of malnutrition, poor health, mistreatment and powerlessness women have contributed to the economy significantly through small business endeavours in villages to prove their abilities to be self-reliant. This paper unfolds the success stories of the rural women in a rural set up near Santiniketan, Birbhum West Bengal. The study enables to understand the nature of work adopted by the entrepreneur, challenges encountered and solutions embraced to establish a successful endeavour. The significance of such endeavours is endorsed in the present-day scenario by recognition of responsibilities by the women in the public domain. A participatory approach is used by the researcher as a methodology to understand the endeavours in the rural scenario.