1. The Journal of Commerce, Vol. 3, No. 3
ISSN: 2218-8118, 2220-6043
Hailey College of Commerce, University of the Punjab, PAKISTAN
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN INDIA (A CASE STUDY IN
ANDHRA PRADESH)
Dr.S.Tarakeswara Rao1 , Prof.G.Tulasi Rao and in the society. They discover new sources of
Mr.M.P.Suri Ganesh supply of materials and markets and establish
new and more effective forms of organisation.
Abstract Entrepreneurs perceive new opportunities and
In India, entrepreneurship among women is of seize them with super normal will power and
recent origin. Socio – economic background is an energy, essential to overcome the resistance that
important factor that influences the woman to social environment offers2.
start their business. Money is not the sole
objective among woman entrepreneurs to enter Development of entrepreneurship among
in to the business. The studies relating to women is a major step to increase women
woman entrepreneurs in rural areas further participation in the process of economic
reveal that training and awareness regarding development. It will speed up economic
different agencies have proved beneficial for growth, and provide employment opportunities
women entrepreneurs in building confidence. for women resulted in improving the economic
Since entrepreneurship development involves independence. Provision of economic
provision of additional channels of funds in the opportunities for women can also improve the
form of working capital and credit, training, social, educational and health status of women
management skill etc., DWCRA with an and their families. In advanced countries, there
entrepreneurial development of women provides is a phenomenon of increase in the number of
all these inputs by considering women as self – employed women after the World War II.
critical to development. This intervention aims In U.S.A, women own 25 per cent of all business,
at not only raising the income of rural women of even though their sales on an average are less
poor households, but also enabling organized than two – fifths of those of other small
participation of groups in the programme of business3. In Canada, one-third of small
credit, skill training and infrastructure support business is owned by women and in France it is
for self employment in groups who cannot take one – fifth.
up economic activities, individually as their
own. A similar trend is noticed even among the
developed nations in Asia. Women constitute
INTRODUCTION 40 per cent of the total workforce in these
countries5. It has been seen that women
Entrepreneurship is considered as one of the outnumber men by at least two times
most important factors contributing to the particularly when it comes to starting business
economic development of the society. in China. There are over five million women
Entrepreneurs have been considered entrepreneurs constituting one-fourth of all the
instrumental in initiating and sustaining socio- entrepreneurs in China6. In Japan to a similar
economic development. There are evidences to trend has been noticed. Unfortunately, the trend
believe that countries which have in India does not go along the same lines. The
proportionately higher percentage of 1991 census shows that the proportion of
entrepreneurs in their population have enterprises setup and run by women in India
developed much faster as compared to was approximately a fraction of one per cent7.
countries, which have lesser percentage of them
The total number of women in India is a
1 whopping figure of 526 million. This female
Faculty Member – Dept. of Commerce & Mgt.
population is larger than the combined total
Studies, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar University –
populations of Canada, USA and the Russian
Srikakulam- Andhra Pradesh – INDIA. Email: federation. Unfortunately a very small
taraksivvala@gmail.com percentage of the woman population belonging
43

2. Women Entrepreneurship in India (A case study in Andhra Pradesh)
to the elite, educated and upper – middle class independence of women. These views are
especially in the cities, has been exposed to antagonistic to the laws of Manu written early in
issues on Women‟s roles, career options and the Christian era which stress the need to
jobs. At the same time women are under – control women because of the „evils „ of female
represented in government and decision – character. The following lines reflect the age-old
making positions. At present, less than eight idea of keeping women dependent.
per cent of parliamentary seats, less than six per
cent of cabinet positions and less than four per A woman is never independent. In childhood a
cent of seats in High Courts and the Supreme female must be subjected to her father, in youth
Court are occupied by women less than three to her husband, when her lord is dead to her
per cent of administrators and managers are sons. A woman must never be independent.
women. The not – so – fortune sister of the glam
doll urban and rural women consumer battle Women are often described as the better half of
their day with inadequate wages, poverty, man. But the actual condition of women in the
female feticide, sexual harassment, lack of world does not tally with this description. In no
education and job skills, HIV infection etc. country have women achieved equality with
men. Of the world‟s 1.4 billion poor people it is
The emergence of women on the economic scene estimated that nearly 70 per cent are women.
as entrepreneurs is a significant development in Between 75 and 80 per cent of the world‟s 30
the emancipation of women and securing them million refugees are women and children.
a place in the society, which they have all along Educational backwardness is a major reason of
deserved. The hidden entrepreneurial potentials women lagging behind men. Of the world‟s one
of women have gradually been changing with billion illiterate adults, two thirds are women.
the growing sensitivity to the role and economic Two-thirds of the 150 million children
status in the society. Women are increasingly worldwide who are not in schools are girls.8
becoming conscious of their existence, their
rights and their work situations. Today women On the other hand history also records that
entrepreneurs represent a group of women who women in Vedic age have played an important
have broken away from the beaten track and are part in religious and social functions. The
exploring new avenues of economic position of wife was an honored one as no
participation. Among these reasons for women religious ceremony could be performed by the
to run organized enterprises are their skill and husband alone. The third millennium B.C.
knowledge, their talents and abilities in business Harappan and Mohanjodoro culture indicates
and a compelling desire of wanting to do that Indian women enjoyed a comparatively
something positive. high status, which surpassed that of
contemporary civilizations in ancient areas,
What makes their arrival as well as Mesopotamia or Egypt. The Rugveda too
achievements even more significant and provides evidence to prove the concept of
commendable are the struggles they have to put equality of women with men as regards the
up, frustrations they have to experience and the access to knowledge, even to the knowledge of
multiple handicaps they have to overcome to the absolute. There have always been
emerge as entrepreneurs at the early stage and outstanding women who have risen alone
subsequently achieving success in business at despite the constraints of their time.
the stage of managing their enterprises. Unfortunately, due to social, economic and
political changes later on women lost their
Status of women freedom depends on economic position in education and other fields.
conditions even more than political. If a woman Economically women became completely
is not economically free and self-earning, she dependent on men.9
will have to depend on her husband or someone
else, and dependents are never free. These were Although a lot has been done to ameliorate the
the ideas of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first condition of womankind, “International
Prime Minister of India, who vividly Women‟s Day”, which falls on March 8, reminds
highlighted the importance of economic us every year that much more needs to be done
to ensure a better deal for the female half of the
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3. The Journal of Commerce, Vol. 3, No. 3
ISSN: 2218-8118, 2220-6043
Hailey College of Commerce, University of the Punjab, PAKISTAN
humanist. The fourth world conference on skill and knowledge, their talents and abilities in
women held in Beijing in 1995, resulted in business and a compelling desire of wanting to
agreement by 189 delegations on a five year plan do something positive.
to enhance the social, economic and political
empowerment of women, improve their health, Over the last few decades, while women have
advance their education and promote their come forward to establish their own enterprises,
reproductive rights. Over 100 countries have their numbers remain few and far between. The
announced new initiatives to further the entrepreneurial world is still male dominated. In
advancement of women as a result of Beijing developed countries women tend to perform
conference. The 1979 UN convention on the secretarial or low-level managerial jobs in the
elimination of all forms of discrimination corporate sectors – indeed, less than five per
amongst women, often described as the bill of cent of senior management portions are held by
rights for women, has now been ratified by 154 women in the USA. In developing countries
countries. such as India even in the small-scale sector, less
than seven per cent of the enterprises have been
“When women move forward, the families set – up by women. But probably what is
moves, the village moves”. These words of noteworthy is that women have plunged into
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru are often repeated the field of entrepreneurship and have been
because it is an accepted fact that only when the found effective in emerging social, economical
women are in the mainstream of progress can role. Women had been a manager since long,
any economic and social development be from the time the concept of living in a family
meaningful. emerged. She had been an entrepreneur within
the four walls where she was innovative in
In India from the very beginning, women have terms of budgeting with the limited income
been managers of the kitchen and have solely resources used the waste material for making
dominated the area of household activities. So some useful products. With the changing role
deep has been the impact of this, that the that women accepted ever since mid- eighties,
general attitude of the people about women the role of entrepreneurship amongst women
entrepreneurs is that they are makers of pickles, has gained a considerable importance.
papads, masalas, and other household goods.
Today non – traditional enterprises are easily The 1991 Industrial Policy has envisaged special
managed by women and are done so excellently training programmes to support women
with them as the decision – makers. They are entrepreneurs. Accordingly women
flourishing well as leading consultants, entrepreneurs are receiving training through
publishers, exporters of machinery, Entrepreneurship Development Programmes
manufactures of electric goods, exporters of (EDPS) conducted by various institutions and
garments, designers, interior decorators and the organizations both at central and state levels.
like. The Small Industries Development Organisation
(SIDO), with its field offices all over the country
The hidden entrepreneurial potentials of women has been carrying out development programmes
have gradually been changing with the growing for women entrepreneurs and is providing
sensitivity to the role and economic status in technical schemes for setting up of SSI units. In
society. Women are increasingly being conscious view of the changing outlook for the promotion
of their existence, their rights and their work of women enterprises, the SSI Board in 1991
situation. And yet the middle class strata revised the definition of women enterprises by
women have accepted their role and are not omitting the condition of employing 50 per cent
ready to alter for fear of a social backlash. of women workers. This provided a boost to
Today, woman entrepreneurs represent a group women entrepreneurs to take up business and
of women who have broken away from the avail all facilities / concessions as are applicable
beaten track and are exploring new avenues of to a SSIs.
economic participation. Among the reasons for
women to run organized enterprises are their
45

4. Women Entrepreneurship in India (A case study in Andhra Pradesh)
“Women in business” is considered a recent manufacturing, knitting and tailoring,
phenomenon in India. The fact that almost half readymade garments, herbal, medicines
the population of this large country comprises of manufacturing, etc. Indeed, a large number of
females while businesses owned and operated Indian women are engaged in such
by them constitute less than five per cent is a supplementary income generating activities. The
reflection on social, cultural as well as economic base of most such activities has been „home‟ and
distractions in the decades of development.12 those have been direct or indirect extensions of
Indeed, women‟s participation in economic the usual household chores of an Indian woman,
activity and production of goods and services is something a woman is good at in the kitchen or
far greater than formal statistics might reveal, as a housewife.
since much of it takes place in the informal
sector as also in the households. But despite these numerous barriers and
tangible obstacles women are, entering in to the
As education spread and compulsions for field of business in increasing numbers. What
earning have grown more and more women makes their arrival as well as achievements even
have started to go out of the homes and opt more significant and commendable are the
either for wage employment or self employment struggles they have to put up, frustration they
/ entrepreneurial career. In case of woman, have to survive and the multiple handicaps they
however, handicaps to entry into business have to overcome to emerge as entrepreneurs at
ownership have been for too many given the the entry stage and subsequently achieving
traditional, conservative, orthodox Indian success in business at the stage of managing
society. The process of breaking many of these their enterprises.
shackles has been rather slow. However,
changes have started taking place as far as role The women entrepreneur of today is neither a
of women in economic development is rare orchid nor a voiceless heroine with
concerned and strides have been made by playback support rather she embodies a
women in setting up and managing business; a compelling urge for self-expression, which
fairly large number has „graduated‟ out of the needs encouragement from everyone concerned
initial phase of going out of the home to work with the progress of the nation.
for somebody. Employment to self –
employment has been a employment has been a STUDIES CONDUCTED AT
noticeable phenomenon in the emergence of NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
new women entrepreneurs. Many of them not LEVEL
only own small business but have set up and
run manufacturing enterprises. Which is Studies conducted in Poland highlights that
ultimate in the entrepreneurship movement. women entrepreneurs are involved in
And by doing so successfully, they have traditional and non-traditional business.
unquestionably established the fact that women However they are successful because of the
can be as capable and successful entrepreneurs formal training they took before the start of the
as men in business and industry. business. In Jamaica, women have been
involved in areas, which require less capital and
And yet, the society at large continues to suffer
extension of household activities. Household
from a various misconceptions (myths)
responsibility plays a significant role in choice of
apprehensions and suspicions about women
economic activity. Comparative studies of
entrepreneurs in business and industry. This is
women entrepreneurship in India and U.K.
the result of inadequacies of literature about
reveals that the share of women entrepreneur in
Indian women in business and industry. The
business is relatively more in U.K. than in India
dearth of documentation, information and
since better facilities are available to women in
publications about women entrepreneurs has
U.K. In both the countries family responsibility
allowed a stereo type image of women in
is the main concern faced by them.
business to persist. Typically women have been
portrayed as those undertaking business of
predictable lines – the papad – pickle
46

5. The Journal of Commerce, Vol. 3, No. 3
ISSN: 2218-8118, 2220-6043
Hailey College of Commerce, University of the Punjab, PAKISTAN
Woman enterprise challenge to the government, funding agencies
and non-government organisations. It is
A woman entrepreneur is an adult who owns important for these people to focus on the
and runs an enterprise, especially a commercial limitations faced by the women and to plan
one, often at personal financial risk. A recent supporting systems to enhance the women
ILO-Indian study of woman entrepreneurs gave entrepreneurship in India.
the definition of women‟s enterprise as „a small
unit where one or more women entrepreneurs Need and importance of women
have not less than 50 per cent financial entrepreneurs
holdings.13
It is imperative to note the participation of
The concept of women entrepreneurship is
women in economic activities as self-employed
becoming a global phenomenon playing a vital
individuals. Many of the traditional occupations
role in the business community. In India women
open to women were mainly based on caste,
have made a comparatively late entry into
creed and the nature of self-employment based
business scenario mainly due to the orthodox
on the standard of living. Presently, women are
and traditional socio-cultural environment.
generating employment for themselves in an
Although women face various problems in the
unorganized sector and another category of
process of establishing, developing and running
women who provide employment for others.
their enterprise, nevertheless, their scope of
development is very high in India, especially in The country needs to mobilize and utilize fully
rural areas with more women making all its resources including human resources. The
development – oriented programme viz. participation of women in economic activities is
Development of Women and Children in Rural necessary not only from a human resource point
Areas, (DWCRA) launched in and being of view but also is essential even from the
implemented in 1982-83. In what follows, an objective of raising the status of women in the
attempt is made to analyze the success of such a society. The economic status of the women is
scheme in terms of its survival, growth and now accepted as an indicator of a society‟s stage
development of women entrepreneurs and of development and therefore it becomes
identify the problems faced by the women imperative for the government to frame policies
entrepreneurs. for development of entrepreneurship among
women. The long-term objectives of the
Woman Entrepreneurship in India development programmes for women should
aim to raise their economic and social status in
Around 50 per cent of India‟s population is order to bring them into the mainstream of
women. Yet, business spheres such as trade, national life and development. For this, due
commerce and industry, is still considered a recognition has to be accorded to the role and
male preserve. Entrepreneurial work has also contribution of women in the various social
been a predominantly a man‟s world in India. economic and political and cultural activities.
This is based on the fact that only seven per cent
of the total entrepreneurs in India are women. Factors influencing women
Indian women are in no way inferior to men in entrepreneurs
all walks of life and they can be as good
The following are the major factors influencing
entrepreneurs as men in the country. Therefore,
the women entrepreneur.
it is essential to exploit the potentials of Indian
 Economic independence.
women. Women‟s participation in trade,
 Establishing their own creative idea.
industry and commerce, requiring
 Establishing their own identity.
entrepreneurship, is still poor mainly because of
 Achievement of excellence.
the problems associated with their gender roles.
Therefore, promotion of entrepreneurship and  Building confidence.
economic empowerment of women poses a  Developing risk-taking ability.
47

6. Women Entrepreneurship in India (A case study in Andhra Pradesh)
 Motivation. Since entrepreneurship development involves
 Equal status in society. provision of additional channels of funds in the
 Greater freedom and mobility form of working capital and credit, training,
management skill etc., DWCRA with an
The concept of developing women entrepreneurial development of women
entrepreneurship lays emphasis of the provides all these inputs by considering women
productive utilization of women labour force to as critical to development. This intervention
generate income and output. The programme aims at not only raising the income of rural
for developing women entrepreneur would women of poor households, but also enabling
make a dent to alleviate poverty. The Sixth Five organized participation of groups in the
Year Plan for the first time highlighted the programme of credit, skill training and
problem of women integration in economic infrastructure support for self employment in
development in India and emphasized need to groups who cannot take up economic activities,
expand women employment in the household individually as their own.
sector by providing adequate support in the
areas of technology upgradation, training, CONCLUSION
credit, raw material requirements and
development of financing loans. For this The main objective of the scheme is to improve
purpose, sincere efforts have been taken under the economic, health, educational and social
various plans, policies, programmes for the status of rural women by providing them
development of women entrepreneurship since assistance and creating employment
1990‟s. opportunities. The specific objectives of the
scheme are:
The DWCRA groups (also known as SHGs) is
considered as a viable organisation of the rural 1. To help and promote self-employment
poor particularly women for delivering micro among the rural women, who are below
credit in order to undertake entrepreneurial the poverty line, by providing skill
activities. Some of the studies on these groups training in vocations which are
particularly those managed by women acceptable to the beneficiaries, by
successfully demonstrated how to mobilize and encouraging productivity in their
manage thrift activities, appraise credit needs, existing vocations and by introducing
enforce financial discipline, maintain credit new activities hitherto undertaken;
linkages with banks and effectively undertake 2. To organize the beneficiaries in groups,
income generating activities etc.16 These studies activity-wise and promote economic
also showed that the poor as a group are quite and social self-reliance.
creditworthy and repayment of loan is quite 3. To generate income for the rural poor
satisfactory. by creating avenues for production of
goods and services;
Women Entrepreneurship in AP: A 4. To organize production enhancing
case SHGs programmes in rural areas; and
5. To provide for care of the children of
The scheme, Development of Women and the workingwomen by providing an
Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) launched in improved environment, care and food
1982-83 (presently called as SHGs), inaugurated by establishing crèches / balwadis.
an era for systematically organizing women in
groups for providing them opportunities of self- The programme called for formation of groups
employment on a sustained basis. Several of 10-15 women who could collectively engage
thousands of rural women from the length and in an activity. One woman amongst the
breadth of the country participate in this members functions as the group organizer who
programme and they have taken up a number of helps in the choice of activity, procurement of
trades under DWCRA banner. raw materials, marketing of products etc.
A revolving fund of Rs. 15,000/- (subsequently
increased to Rs.20, 000/-) was made available to
48

7. The Journal of Commerce, Vol. 3, No. 3
ISSN: 2218-8118, 2220-6043
Hailey College of Commerce, University of the Punjab, PAKISTAN
each group for credit and administrative needs. N. Rajendran, OP. Cit. P – 40.
The programme is implemented by the District Kumar K.P. “Role of SHG‟s in promoting
Rural Development Agency (DRDA) at the Micro Enterprises through Micro
district level. SHG is the only programme of its Credit: An empirical study” Journal of
kind, which aims at empowering the rural poor Rural Development Vol.21 (2) P 232.
women by inculcating entrepreneurial skill. It Manimekalai and Rajeswari: 2000; Myrada:
seeks to encourage collective action in the form 1995; NABARD; 1989; and Dinakar Rao
of group activities, which are known to work 1992.
better than individual efforts.
Self-employment is emerging to be a very
important source of livelihood for women in
Asia and South East Asia. This is due to paucity
of employment opportunities. There is an
additional factor that many types of paid
employment are felt to be more suitable to males
than females.
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49