1. Women Entrepreneurship Introduction: Women are goal-oriented, flexible, tolerant, creative, realistic, enthusiastic and energetic because of which the management style differs from their male counterpart. They are by and large born managers as they manage their house. They can simultaneously do more than one task at a time and have good coordination skills. They invariably think of entering a business once their children are grown up and household responsibilities get reduced. Women rely on their finance and avoid availing of loans. They also differ from men in the types of business they start. Status in India: Women constitute about 50% of the population of India with lower literacy rate than that of men. They, however, constitute 10% of the number of entrepreneurs in India. For the economic growth of the nation, women should not be ignored and they should be encouraged to make their

2. share of economic contribution to the country. One way of achieving is by making women come out and become entrepreneurs. Definition: Women entrepreneurs may be defined as “ woman or group of women who initiate, organize and run a business enterprise.” Government of India has defined women entrepreneurs based on women participation in equity and employment of a business enterprise. Accordingly, “ a woman-run enterprise is defined as an enterprise owned and controlled by a woman having a minimum financial stake of 51% of the capital and giving at least 51% of the employment generated in the enterprise to women.” Women become entrepreneurs due to economic factors which push them to be on their own and urge them to do something independently. Women prefer to work from their own residence. Difficulty in getting suitable jobs and the desire for social recognition motivate them towards

4. Steps to encourage Women Entrepreneurs: In order to encourage women entrepreneurs, the Government of India and state governments as well as non government organizations(NGOs) promote various schemes There is a women’s wing of National Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs (NAYE) which assist women entrepreneurs in: (i) Providing access to capital, infrastructure and markets (ii) Development of management and production capabilities (iii) Identifying business opportunities (iv) Sponsoring, delegating, participating in trade fairs, exhibitions, arranging buyer-seller meets and conferences (v) Organizing seminars, workshops and training programs for giving wider exposure to women entrepreneurs to develop their entrepreneurial capabilities (vi) Lobbying for them in Press, Parliament, State assemblies and other fora