Women Entrepreneurship in India: An Overview

Women entrepreneurship is gaining traction in India as more women start their own businesses. Despite various challenges and limitations, women in India are becoming increasingly confident and are taking the entrepreneurial route to fulfilling their aspirations and dreams. India has a rich history of women entrepreneurship, with several successful women entrepreneurs who have made a mark in various fields.

Current Scenario

According to a report by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), the percentage of women entrepreneurs in India increased from 14% in 2005 to 18% in 2015. Moreover, with the growth of the Indian economy, women entrepreneurship is expected to grow further in the coming years.

Despite the positive trend, women entrepreneurs in India still face several challenges. Some of the major challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India are:

Access to finance: Access to finance is one of the biggest challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India. Traditional banks are reluctant to lend money to women entrepreneurs, making it difficult for them to secure funds for their businesses.

Lack of support from family and society: Women entrepreneurs often face resistance from their families and society, who believe that women should not be involved in the business. This lack of support can be a major hindrance to the growth of women-owned businesses.

Lack of skills and knowledge: Women entrepreneurs in India often lack the necessary skills and knowledge to start and run a successful business. They need access to training and mentorship programs to help them acquire the necessary skills.

Gender bias: Women entrepreneurs in India often face gender bias from customers and employees. This can be a major hindrance to the growth and success of their businesses.

Despite these challenges, women entrepreneurshipis growing in India, and there are several initiatives being taken by the government and private organizations to support and encourage women entrepreneurship.

Government Initiatives

The government of India has launched several initiatives to support women entrepreneurship in the country. Some of these initiatives are:

Mahila Udyam Nidhi Scheme: This scheme provides financial assistance to women entrepreneurs in India to start their own businesses.

Annapurna Scheme: This scheme provides financial assistance to women entrepreneurs who are running small-scale industries.

Stree Shakti Package: This package provides financial assistance to women entrepreneurs who are running micro and small-scale enterprises.

Private Initiatives

In addition to government initiatives, private organizations are also taking steps to support women's entrepreneurship in India. Some of these initiatives are:

Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP): WEP is a platform for women entrepreneurs in India to connect, share their experiences, and find resources to grow their businesses.

Sheroes: Sheroes is a platform for women entrepreneurs in India to connect with mentors, investors, and other resources to grow their businesses.

Conclusion

Women entrepreneurship is growing in India, and despite the challenges, women entrepreneurs are making a mark in various fields. With government initiatives and private organizations supporting women's entrepreneurship, the future looks bright for women entrepreneurs in India. However, more needs to be done to remove the challenges women entrepreneurs face in India and encourage more women to take the entrepreneurial route.