Innovative Profession and Women Entrepreneurs: A Study on Women Entrepreneurs Engaged in Home Delivery Catering Services in Salt Lake Area, Kolkata, West Bengal

Abstract

In the present century, two significant developments are taking place in the global economy. One is women-owned businesses and the second is international trade. Women constitute half of the world's human resources. They are starting businesses at a rate twice than that of men both in traditional and the new ventures. In this perspective, a study was conducted on women entrepreneurs who are engaged in home delivery catering services in Saltlake area, Kolkata, West Bengal. The area represents middle income groups and the affluent. Moreover, there has been development of a new township in the name of 'Naba Diganta' where IT Park exists. To tap the new found opportunities of supplying homemade and reasonably priced lunch, dinner and tiffin to the employees of this IT industry and to utilize the opportunities of supplying homemade holiday and busy day meals to the inhabitants of this area, housewives particularly Bengali housewives started this innovative venture. This service has become a fast developing profession in this area. Mainly, Bengali housewives have come out of their traditional habits to tap this opportunity in the changed perspective. Educated Bengali housewives are quickly adapting to this profession as a source of income and as a source of pleasure to utilize their leisure time after having given adequate time for upbringing of their children and family. They are successfully running businesses with small capital from family and with a few helping hands and few delivery boys. They are the supervisors of their own businesses the prospects of which they think are bright. They are gaining popularity because of their value added services which they render at reasonable prices compared to the prevailing market price.