A Study Of Women Entrepreneurs - Core

LIST OF FIGURESNONAME OF FIGURES1234Traits of Entrepreneurs.Entrepreneurial Characteristics.Distribution of Selected SampleTypes of women entrepreneurs.5Percentage Distribution of Age of Selected WomenEntrepreneurs.Percentage Distribution of Education of SelectedWomen Entrepreneurs.Percentage Distribution of Marital Status ofSelected Women EntrepreneursPercentage Distribution of Religion of WomenEntrepreneursPercentage Distribution of Women Entrepreneurs fromdifferent Social Strata.Percentage Distribution of Number of non Earning onSelected Women EntrepreneursPercentage Distribution of Type of Family of SelectedWomen Entrepreneurs.Help of Husband and Family Members in Joint Family &Nuclear ge Distribution of (Yearly) Family Income ofWomen Entrepreneurs.Percentage Distribution of (Individual) Income ofSelected Women Entrepreneurs.Percentage Distribution of Inheritance of Enterprise.Percentage Distribution of Trained and UntrainedWomen EntrepreneursPercentage Distribution of Trained WomenEntrepreneurs from Various Institutions.Percentage Distribution of Source of Motivation forWomen EntrepreneursPercentage Distribution of Need to Start Enterprise.Percentage Distribution of Selection of Enterprise.Percentage Distribution of Status before StartingEnterprisePercentage Distribution of Usefulness of past workExperience.Percentage Distribution of Duration of Production UnitPercentage Distribution of out station Visits due 0111112113114115116117118119120

Percentage Distribution of Method of Purchasing RawMaterials.Percentage Distribution of Storage of Raw MaterialsPercentage Distribution of Time TestingPercentage Distribution of Type of TestingPercentage Distribution of Prevention to AvoidSpoilage.Issues Regarding Raw Materials.Equipments used for Food Production.Percentage Distribution of Types of fuel Used.Percentage Distribution of Ownership of EnterprisePremises.Percentage Distribution of Distance betweenResidence and Enterprise.Percentage Distribution of Location of Enterprise.Percentage Distribution of Numbers of Workers in theEnterprise.Percentage Distribution of Male and Child WorkerPercentage Distribution of Training given to Workers byentrepreneurs.Percentage Distribution of Days & Hours of Training forWorkers by EntrepreneursPercentage Distribution of Stipend during TrainingGiven To Workers by Entrepreneurs.Percentage Distribution of Method of Training Imparted.Percentage Distribution of Experts for impartingtraining.Percentage Distribution of Terms of Appointmentof Workers in Enterprise UnitPercentage Distribution of Numbers of Units and Site ofProduction / WorkPercentage Distribution of Problems of Workers Facedby Entrepreneurs.Percentage Distribution of Duration of the Work at theEnterprise.Percentage Distribution of Means of Transport forWorker.Percentage Distribution of Leave given byentrepreneurs to workersPercentage Distribution of Bonus given to 13413513613713813914014114214314450Percentage Distribution of Number of Units EngagingWorkers in Night Duty and Female Night Shift.14551Percentage distribution of Physical problems faced byworkers due to work.14626

52Percentage Distribution of Investment at Start.147535455Percentage Distribution of Investment at Present.Percentage Distribution of Source of Investment.Percentage Distribution of Loan Details ofEntrepreneursPercentage Distribution of Sources of Loan.Percentage Distribution of Problems faced to get Loan.Percentage Distribution of Benefits from Government.Percentage Distribution of License, Labeling andInsurance Details of Food ProductionPercentage Distribution of Time of Production.Percentage Distribution of Quantity of Production.Percentage Distribution of Use of Additives during theProduction.Percentage Distribution of Use of PreservativesPercentage Distribution of Health preferencesPercentage Distribution of Hygiene preferencesPercentage Distribution of Efforts to Quality UpgradePercentage Distribution of Efforts to and to ReducePricePercentage Distribution of Packaging Details.Percentage Distribution of Area of Marketing.Percentage Distribution of Marketing Network.Percentage Distribution of Advertisement Details.Percentage Distribution of Media of AdvertisementPercentage Distribution of Marketing Problems.Percentage Distribution of Rejection (left over) of FoodProducts.Percentage Distribution of Maintenance of AccountsPercentage Distribution of Duration of AccountKeeping.Percentage Distribution of Accounting Methods.Percentage Distribution of (Yearly) Turn over Detail.Percentage Distribution of Profit Details.Percentage Distribution of Saving Detail.Percentage Distribution of Means of Increasing Income.Percentage Distribution of Means of SustainingCompetition.Percentage Distribution of Opinion about 2173174176

28CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTION1.1. WOMEN IN INDIAIndian women are considered as a source of power (shakti) since mythologicaltimes. The Hindus worship goddesses as mothers. But in reality, women occupy aback seat to men. Moreover, they are revered as mothers, sisters and other socialbondages. Many poets have imagined woman’s minds as ocean. The upper layersof their minds, like those of the ocean, have turbulent waves. But depths are sereneand meditative. Women’s minds are essentially steadfast and strong. The truth isacknowledged by the Bhagvad Geeta wherein Lord Krishna describes hismanifestation in the feminine quality of Medha or higher intelligence.In spite of these facts, in traditional Indian society women are accordedinferior status in family hierarchy. The Indian society considered women asweaker sex. Such sociological and cultural traditions and taboos have keptwomen dormant for quiet a long time.The Sati pratha [woman setting herself fire on the pyre of husband] almostdisappeared, but shameful incidents like female foeticide continue to take placein our so called developed society. Women continue to face gender bias rightfrom childhood. Incidences of malnutrition, school dropout, early marriage,harassment for dowry etc, are significant examples. The male female ratio in ourcountry has also become a serious issue of concern these days.69

Table 1Population by Sex 1 www. census India. net as on 18-1-2006.It is quite common in Indian families that the women take up moreresponsibilities in bringing up children and maintaining home with love andaffection in a far better way. This aspect of women being the nucleus of thefamily is being envied by westerners since they lack such family affirmations. Thetask of co–ordination of various activities in a much useful manner, withoutfeeling any pinch of it, is being well managed by Indian women in their families.Child rearing and providing support services at home is till today recognized asprincipal function of an Indian woman. The traditional perception of woman as ahomemaker or at the most a helper in the husband’s occupation is still prevalent.70

1.1.1. STATUS OF WOMEN IN INDIAThe historical research and literary writing of the ancient period - Vedic,Upanishad, Buddhist and Jainism establish the fact that women were educated,respected and honored. Their status was equal to that of me.After 300 B. C. women were degraded to a lower status. Her status wasfurther marred by the practices of polygamy, the pardah [veil], early marriage,sati and forcible widowhood. They were also denied inheritance to the right ofproperty.In 19th century many social reforms in India rose against the evil practices.From Ram Mohan Roy to Gandhiji, efforts were focused to improve status ofwomen. In 1829 Sati pratha was abolished and considered to be crime. WidowRemarriage Act was passed in 1856 and enforcement of monogamy was broughtin 1872.With globalization and knowledge based society spreading like wild fire inthe world today, the realization of women’s crucial role in human developmenthas been gaining acceptance. Women today face many challenges and will facenewer ones in future. They will now have to face more stringent forms ofcompetition. They will have to polish their existing skill of wealth creation andtime management to deal with the challenges of 21st century. They will have todevote more and more time to acquire new skill and knowledge, which now runthe wheels of business and industry in the world.71

1.2CHANGING ROLE OF WOMENThe decades after independence have seen tremendous changes in thestatus and the position of the women in Indian society. The constitution has laiddown as a fundamental right – the equality of the sexes. It would not be anexaggeration to say that the recent changes in the status of women in India is nota sign of progress, but it is really a recapturing of the position that was held bywomen in Vedic period. Jayapalan in his book on women studies in 2000describes the changing roles as follows:1.2.1 Social Role: Literary and historical research has now established beyonddoubt that the women held a position of equality with men during the Vedicperiod. There was a great change in the role of women after 300 B. C. Duringthis period, son was valued more than daughter. Many young women renouncedtheir homes and joined the Buddhistic and Jain monasteries. It was alsopresumed that one of the reasons for practice of early marriage of girls was toprevent them from entering monastic life. Girls were married off soon afterpuberty. Marriage was an irrevocable union for a woman.The wave of reformist movement in nineteenth century brought thechanging role of women in the social field. Finally it led to the great emancipationof the Indian women in the twentieth century. There was a change in the outlookin society. Many legislative measures were brought about for the protection ofwomen. The urgency of women’s education was felt and thus facilities for thesame were made. Many women leaders created a kind of political awarenessamong women which led to a great change in their role. Women even began tofight against the social evils during this period.1.2.2 Economic Role: Rural women have always been working in the fieldsand farms from time immemorial. They have worked because that was way of72

life. Similarly women have been working to help their husbands in cottageindustries. They have been working and they now continue to work.Work in the lives of majority of women is not a matter of self equity.Changing economic roles and responsibilities of women, particularly among thepoor, make employment/work a matter of economic survival. Male unemploymentor male low earnings resulting due to wage labour and high rates of urbanizationhave also meant an increase in the number of married women workers. Lowmale wages often impose double responsibilities on married women who need tosubstitute the family income through additional home production and work outside the home.Women’s contribution to household income provides the means to meetbasic survival needs such as food, clothing and shelter. Ultimately, women’scontribution makes possible improvements in the health and nutritional status ofhousehold members.In the census, “married women’ are often classified as “housewives”,weighing the importance of economic contribution they make to the household.The actual number of economically active married women is much larger thanaggregate level data would indicate.The great change, however took place when the machines wereintroduced. Women were employed in factories. In 1901 as many as 6, 38,000women worked in factories, mines and plantations, forming 14.5 percent of thetotal working force. There was spectacular increase in the employment of middleclass women who were working in secretarial or administrative capacities. Morewomen were now working as stenographers, clerks, telephone operators andreceptionists; In the educational field also about 15 percents of the teachers atprimary and secondary levels were women. Women’s participation in all spheres73

highlights their changing role and the emerging pattern points towards equality ofsex.1.3EARLY CONCEPT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIPIn 1951 census, the approach was income based whereas the 1961census was based on work in terms of time or labour force as perrecommendation of ILO (International Labour Organization). Following theadoption of work approach in 1961 census, the classification of population wasdone into two categories –workers and non workers. A person was treated asworker if he or she devoted more than one hour a day for regular work for alarger part of the working season or if he or she was employed during any of thefifteen days preceding the visiting day of enumeration to the household;(Chandra 2001.)In 1971 census also, the population was divided into two broad streams ofmain activity as workers and non workers. If a person had participated in anyeconomic activity on any single day during the reference period (one week to thedate of enumeration) was treated as main worker and the rest were treated asnonworking even if they were engaged in same economic activity partly or whollyduring the year excluding the reference period. The non workers were those whohad not worked at all during the reference year. In other words, the strength ofnon workers could be arrived at by subtracting the total strength of main andmarginal workers from the total population.While formulating the economic aspect for 1981 census, a tracheotomy ofpersons into mutually exclusive groups of main workers, marginal workers andnon workers was introduced. Finally, as 1991 census based on the discussionsin the data user conference, it was decided unanimously to follow the conceptsand definitions used in 1981 census including the reference period of one yearfor both regular and seasonal activities74

According to 2001 census, the number of total workers, main and marginalworkers by sex could be seen as under;Table 2Workers by SexNIndia / StateTotal WorkersMain WorkersMarginal ,841,3184,595,5701,854,4844,475,2834West shSource: Primary census Abstract; Census of India, 20011.4ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF WOMENIt has been well accepted that women play an important role in economicwelfare of the family. It is generally felt that the role of women in traditionalsocieties is just confined to the household management based on traditionalvalues, attitudes and customs. In fact, the family culture in the context of whichearly socialization takes place is a very important factor which later on induces orprohibits women’s participation in economic activities of the family. The economicrole of women in the traditional society largely depends upon two importantfactors: Need for augmenting the family income Opportunities available for participation in such economic activitiesWomen entering business is comparatively recent phenomenon. By and largethey had confined to petty business and tiny cottage industries. Although more75

and more women breaking the barriers, most of them still do not find it eitherpossible or desirable for total involvement in entrepreneurial activities. In India,marriage is the only career for most women. Even professionally, they havelargely confined their activities to areas such as teaching, office work, nursingand medicine.The data given by Ganeshan in 2003 reveals the following important factsabout women employment: Women constituted 47.62 % (40 crores) of total population in1991 70% women were unemployed and only the remaining were employed Employed females were almost half the employed males 97% of adult males were employed whereas among adult femalesonly38% -a little more than one third were employed. A large number of womenwere engaged in unorganized sectors like agriculture, agro based industries,handicraft, handlooms and cottage industries. There were more than 2, 95,680 women entrepreneurs according to 1991census, and claiming 11.2% of total l2.64 million entrepreneurs in India. The percentage of women self employed in 1981 almost doubled in 1991. Most of the women were concentrated in low paid skilled, low technology andlow productivity jobs.The emergence of women on the economic scene as entrepreneurs is asignificant development in the emancipation of women and securing for them aplace in the society, which they have all along deserved. The association ofwomen with economic enterprises would provide a healing touch in promotingpeace and amity in the strife ridden world of today.Legally and constitutionally, woman in India enjoy a unique status of equalitywith men. They are equal citizens expected to enjoy all the rights and privilegesconferred upon all the people. They are entitled to same fundamental rights as76

are guaranteed to men. This provision has enabled the government to makespecial provision for women, particularly in the field of labour legislations likeFactories Act, Maternity Benefit Act, etc.Indian women have played an outstanding role in the freedom struggleand contributed a great deal to the Indian cultural heritage. It is now extremelysignificant to see that they are not lagging behind in the process of economicgrowth.1.5EMPLOYMENT TRENDS AMONG WOMENKar in 2005 compares the data of male and female employment from1901 to 1981as under:Table 3Percentage of Economically Active Population.No.Census of India% of% of economicallyeconomicallyactive femalesactive 9681971

Entrepreneurship 50 2.5 Studies on Motivation of Women Entrepreneurs 52 2.6 Studies on Work and Health 53 2.7 Studies on Work and Stress 54 2.8 Studies on Work and Attitude 56 2.9 Studies on Work and Training 57 2.10 Case studies on Women Entrepreneurs 58 2.11 Studies on Women in Agriculture and Related Work 60