3. INTRODUCTION
• Small Scale Industry: is one in which something is
converted into other form with value-addition using
men, material, & equipment. When this involves at
least 3-persons (and power is used) or at least 5persons (when power is not used), it is an
industry, else, it is classified as an “artisan” activity.
• Small-scale industry is one in which the investment in
plant & machinery is less than Rs. 1 crore. When
investment is less than Rs. 25 Lakhs it qualifies to be
treated as a “Tiny” sector SSI.
4. • The “Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises” acts as the nodal agency for growth and
development of SSIs in the country.
• The ministry formulates and implements policies and
programs in order to promote small scale industries
and enhance their competitiveness. It is assisted by
various public sector enterprises
• Small Industry Development Organization (SIDO)
• National Small Industries Corporation Ltd (NSIC)
• National Commission for Enterprises in the
Unorganized Sector (NCEUS)
• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
5. • Women Entrepreneurs may be defined as the women or a
group of women who initiate, organize and operate a
business enterprise.
• Like a male entrepreneurs a women entrepreneur also
can explore the prospects of starting new enterprise;
undertake risks, introduction of new innovations,
coordination administration and control of business and
providing effective leadership in all aspects of business.
• The term „cottage industry‟ is used when products are
manufactured on a small scale.
• India is well known for its large number of traditional
cottage industries.
6. • The top Indian cottage industries are cotton weaving,
silk weaving, Khadi, carpet making, leather industry,
metal handicrafts and small food processing
industries, jewelry, ornaments, statues, idols, gems,
stones, etc. and edible items like spices, oils, honey,
etc. have a huge demand not only within India but
also in the foreign markets.
• Women entrepreneurs are engaged in manufacturing,
processing, preservation and services such as
Handloom, Weaving Handicraft, Food-Processing,
Garment making etc. in village and small towns with
a population not exceeding 50,000 utilizing locally
available resources/skills.
7. • There are self-help groups in villages, women's that
are the members of the self-help group get financial
assistance at low interest rate which is a great boon
for them.
• 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.
8. Cottage Industry is the Lifeline for Poor
Villagers in India
• Cottage Industry preserves an enormous potential for
employment generation of women's. It gives economic
independence to the women of India.
• It is the traditional business of rural India that supports
the rural economy.
• Goods like dress fabrics such as Khadi, leather, silk,
cotton, wool, muslin, etc, and others like ornaments,
statues, idols, stones, gems, etc besides edible items like
spices, oils, honey etc have a huge demand in India and
in foreign markets as well.
9. Entrepreneurship Development of Rural
Women Through Self Help Groups
• Self Help Group is a homogeneous group of micro entrepreneurs
with affinity among themselves, voluntarily formed to save
whatever amount they can conveniently save out of their earnings
and mutually agree to contribute to a common fund of the group
from which small loans are given to the members for meeting their
productive and emergent credit needs at such rate of interest, period
of loan and other terms as the group may decide.
• The micro entrepreneurships are strengthening the women
empowerment and remove the gender inequalities.
• They were engaged in starting individual or collective income
generation programme with the help of self-help group.
10. • Micro credit is promoting the small scale business enterprises
and its major aim is to alleviate poverty by income generating
activities among women and poor. Therefore, they could achieve
self-sufficiency.
• The rural women are engaged in small-scale entrepreneurship
programme with the help of Self Help Groups.
• Through that they were economically empowered and attaining
status in family and community.
• The women were empowering themselves technically to cope
with the changing times and productively using their free time
and existing skills for setting and sustaining enterprises.
• This will not only generate income for them but also improve
the decision-making capabilities that led to overall
empowerment.
11. Advantages of entrepreneurship among Rural
Women
in cottage industries
•
•
•
•
•
•
Opportunities for women entrepreneurs
Economic empowerment
Improved standard of living
Self confidence
Enhance awareness
Sense of achievement
12. Advantages of entrepreneurship among Rural
Women
in cottage industries
•
•
•
•
•
Increased social interaction
Engaged in political activities
Increased participation level in gram sabha meeting
Improvement in leadership qualities
Involvement in solving problems related to women
and community
• Decision making capacity in family and community
13. Self Help Groups Success Story
• The development of cottage and agro-based industries is vital
towards generation of employment opportunities in rural areas
and rural development in general.
• In the present day condition of rapid industrialization and
urbanization, this is essential in order to prevent the exodus of
rural population to cities in search of employment avenues.
• Annai Indhira SHGwas formed on 16.05.1998 with the
initiative of its 13 members as well as that of the block
development officials of Bhavani Panchayat Union located in
the Bhavani, Tamil Nadu.
• These 13 members started conducting regular weekly meetings
and contributing small savings, which led to the gradual
increase of their group corpus, maintained in their savings
bank account with Indian Overseas Bank, Odathurai.
14. • They soon realized that the development of micro-enterprises in
their village was very essential in order to provide the people a
source of regular employment.
• They were already involved in mulberry cultivation and silkworm
rearing
• They approached their block development officials for guidance.
• The block development officials forwarded a proposal for
Economic Assistance under SGSY for sericulture. This proposal
was sanctioned and a project cost of Rs.2,40,000 was disbursed to
the SHG members.
• Utilizing this amount, several members procured land on lease basis
for mulberry cultivation.
15. • The members bought rearing appliances and constructed
rearing sheds. Diesel engines were also purchased for
operating motors for irrigation purposes.
• They generate 7 to 8 harvests in a year and since all the
family members are involved in the trade, each family is
able to earn a weekly wage of Rs.1,500
• Apart from economic development, the members are
also actively involved in social activities.
• They procured saplings free of cost from the
Government and planted them in their village and they
are also creating awareness about the importance of
rural sanitation.
16. • Besides, they have donated utensils for the children in
the noon meal center functioning in their village.
• Owing to their reported success, the District Collector
and the Project Officer have also visited this SHG and
appreciated the members on its effective functioning.
• Thus, this village is slowly being transformed from a
socially and economically backward village into a
progressive village on the path towards development.
17. CONCLUSION
• Women’s entrepreneurship is both about women’s position
in society and about the role of entrepreneurship in the same
society.
• Women entrepreneurs faced many obstacles specifically in
market their product that have to be overcome in order to
give them access to the same opportunities as men.
• Increased participation of women in the labour force is a
prerequisite for improving the position of women in society
and self-employed women.
• Rural women can do wonders by their effectual and
competent involvement in entrepreneurial activities.
• The rural women are having basic indigenous knowledge,
skill, potential and resources to establish and manage
enterprise.
18. • There should be knowledge regarding accessibility to loans,
various funding agencies procedure regarding certification,
awareness on government welfare programmes, motivation,
technical skill and support from family, government and
other organization
• More over Formation and strengthening of rural women
Entrepreneurs network must be encouraged.
• This network helps to give lectures, printed material
imparting first hand technical knowledge in production,
processing, procurement, management and marketing
among the other women.
• This will motivate other rural women to engage in micro
entrepreneurship with the right assistance and they can
strengthen their capacities besides adding to the family
income and national productivity.
19. References
• Dr Rana Zehra Masood,” EMERGENCE OF WOMENOWNED BUSINESSES IN INDIA-AN
INSIGHT” retrieved from
http://www.researchersworld.com/vol2/PAPER_23.pdf
• http://studypoints.blogspot.in/2011/07/what-is-cottage-andsmall-scale_1765.html
• http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---robangkok/documents/publication/wcms_bk_pb_151_en.pdf
• http://www.esocialsciences.org/Download/repecDownload.a
spx?fname=Document11942010230.524502.doc&fcategory
=Articles&AId=2475&fref=repec
