Women Entrepreneurship:

Introduction:
Women entrepreneurship may be defined as the women or group of women who initiate,
organize, and cooperate a business enterprise. Government of India has defined women
entrepreneurs as an enterprise owned by and controlled by a women having a minimum
financial interest of 51% of the capital and giving at least 51% of employment generated in
the enterprise to women.
According to Kamal Singh (women entrepreneur of Rajasthan): a confident, innovative and
creative woman capable of achieving self-economic independence individually or in
collaboration, generates employment opportunities for others through initiating, establishing,
and running the enterprise by keeping pace with her personal, family and social life.
Though women entrepreneurs often face gender-based barriers while establishing and
growing their businesses, women entrepreneurship is recognized as an important source of
economic growth. Such discrimination may include discriminatory property, matrimonial and
inheritance laws and/or cultural practices, lack of access to financial mechanisms, limited
mobility and access to information and networks.
Women entrepreneurship can make a particularly strong contribution to the economic well-
being of the family and communities, poverty reduction and womens empowerment, thus
contributing to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This is why many of the
government agencies, and developmental organizations are actively involved in promotion of
women entrepreneurship through various schemes, incentives and promotional measures.
Characteristics/features/Qualities of successful women entrepreneurships:
Though women entrepreneurs is not a new concept in western society, it is a newer concept
in India and other South Asian Region. All around the world, women play big roles in the
national economy of their countries. In the developed countries, the low birth rate, along with
the aging of the population, has alarmed the governments about the necessity of the womens
participation in the economic sectors because they constitute about half of the population, and
exclusion of from working and economic activities will cause serious harms to the economy.
In this respect, with the revision of the labour laws and the establishment of workshops and
the financial of the entrepreneurs, the governments have tried to help them enter the
workforce. The women entrepreneurs in India has various qualities. Such qualities can be
pointed out as follows:
1. Positive attitude: a positive attitude is the fuel needed to drive us from idea
conception to realization. With a positive attitude, the ground for invention and
solution will be provided and that will lead to the flow of energies. Entrepreneurship
is a difficult task, negative thoughts will kill the power and energies to produce
innovative idea and programmes. If you have a positive attitude, youll be able to see
the potential that lies within you.
2. Hard working:
3. Overcoming the obstacles and accept challenge: the power of a women to turn the
threats into opportunities for the company makes them successful in running any
venture. They can use adversity to their advantage and hence are successful
entrepreneurs. The women entrepreneurs must learn to take a lesson from every
problem that show up. Gradually, they will realize that the problems are not as big as
they have imagined.
4. High self-confidence: self-belief/self-confidence is the most important characteristics
possessed by a successful women entrepreneurs. What others said about them didnt
matter rather they believed in themselves. They have such a strong belief on own self
that they does not look for problem solvers rather they by their own be the solver of
the problem.
5. Determination to excel:
6. They are passionate about what they do: successful women entrepreneurs are
passionate about what they do and thats why they build a business around what they
love to do best. Passion drives towards success if you work for it.
7. Balance between work and life: by nature women has much of responsibility
towards her family and those women who balance the work and personal life can
achieve success in running enterprise. A balanced life helps the mind for creative
ideas.
8. Goal directedness: the goals are the dreams that are supplemented by clear practical
programming. If the goals are not written down they remain dreams and wishes. The
researches show that the women who have clear and detailed programs tend to be
more successful. This applies for both the women and man entrepreneurs; however,
because the women have family responsibilities, having programs helps them to make
a good balance between life and work.
9. Optimistic: a women entrepreneur must be optimistic. She should approach her
venture with a hope of success and attitude for success rather than with a fear of
failure. The positive thinking of women entrepreneur can turn the situation favourable
to her.
10. Honesty: unlike man who are in aggressive towards the competition, women does not
have such attitude. Observing the laws and avoiding unjust measures against others
are common among entrepreneur women in Asian region. This factor arouses the
sense of trust on others for everyone like to work with trustful and honest people.
11. They go beyond their comfort zone: one can never become a successful
entrepreneur by sitting within their comfort zone; you have to step out into the
unknown and thats what the successful business women did. They left the comfort of
their home and security of their jobs to face life squarely. They paid the price for
success.
12. Other qualities:
a. The sense of being helpful to others:
b. Precession
c. Training
d. Long term vision:
e. Visionary:
f. Risk taking:
g. Acceptance of criticism:
h. They are humble and willing to learn:
Evolution of Women Entrepreneurship in India:


Women are generally perceived as home makers with little to do with economy or commerce. But this picture is
changing. In Modern India, more and more women are taking up entrepreneurial activity especially in medium
and small scale enterprises.
Even as women are receiving education, they face the prospect of unemployment. In this background, self
employment is regarded as a cure to generate income .The Planning commission as well as the Indian
government recognizes the need for women to be part of the mainstream of economic development. Women
entrepreneurship is seen as an effective strategy to solve the problems of rural and urban poverty.
Traditionally, women in India have been generally found in low productive sectors such as agriculture and
household activities. Human Development Report 2004 ranks India 103 in Gender related Development Index
(GDI). As per 2001 census; women constitute nearly half of Indias population. Out of this total, 72% were
engaged in agriculture, 21.7% in other non agricultural pursuits with only 6.3% in household industries.
Women entrepreneurs in India are handicapped in the matter of organizing and running businesses on account of
their generally low levels of skills and for want of support system. The transition from homemaker to
sophisticated business woman is not that easy.
But the trend is changing. Women across India are showing an interest to be economically independent. Women
are coming forth to the business arena with ideas to start small and medium enterprises. They are willing to be
inspired by role models- the experience of other women in the business arena.
The role of women entrepreneurs is especially relevant in the situation of large scale unemployment that the
country faces. The modern large scale industry cannot absorb much of labour as it is capital intensive. The small
scale industry plays an important role absorbing around 80% of the employment.
The myth that women cannot engage in productive employment needs to be dispelled. They can be encouraged to
set up small and medium scale industries on their own initiative. Entrepreneurship development for women is an
important factor in economic development of India.
Rural women can be encouraged to start cottage industries. Rural based micro enterprises have been encouraged
by the government by various schemes-such as Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP), Training of Rural
Youth for Self Employment (TRYSEM), and Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA). The
aim is to remove poverty through entrepreneurial programs.

Problems of women entrepreneurship in india:
Developing women entrepreneurship in india:
Organizations promoting women entrepreneurship in india:
Financial institutions assisting women entrepreneurship in india: