Women Entrepreneurship – To the Extent Developed in Rural India: Some Case Studies

Abstract

The emergence of entrepreneurs in a society depends to a great extent on economic, social, religious, cultural and psychological factors prevailing in the society. In India women constitute around fifty percent of the total population. But the total number of women entrepreneurs does not contribute to fifty percent of total entrepreneurs in India. Majority of women entrepreneurs are in low return, low skill, low technology industries such as handicrafts, handlooms and cottage industries. A large number of women entrepreneurs particularly in rural areas have the potential to be developed for small business. This paper will embody five case studies from Odisha incorporating enterprises run by a group and enterprises run by individuals. These cases will help us to know that women operate mainly in traditional parts of manufacturing and service sectors, running low return enterprises. This paper will highlight the social and cultural barriers and other such reasons which limit the growth of enterprise of women entrepreneurs.