INTRODUCTION OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS:

Women constitute almost half of the total population in the world. But their
representation in gainful employment is comparatively low. According to an I.L.O.
report in 1980, “women are 50 percent of the world’s population, do the two-
thirds of the world’s work hours, receive ten percent of the world’s income and
own less than one percent of world property. All because of an accident of birth”.
In most countries, average earnings of women are lower than those of men. In
several developing countries, marriage is the only career for most women.
Women have confined their activities to selected professions such as education,
nursing, medicine and office work, Very few women enter professions like
industry, engineering, trade, etc.

For centuries, women have been victim of social prejudices and

discrimination. Even today, parents prefer male child to female. Lakhs of fetus
are destroyed after pregnancy tests reveal it is female. Women are generally
presumed to be weak, passive, dependent and people-oriented. On the other
hand, men are considered strong, aggressive, independent and things-oriented.
Assumptions become reality when society prepares males and females for
performance are presumed roles. As a result, men and women enter
organizations with different skills sets. Women are taught to be dependent upon
others, to limit their ambitions and to avoid exposure and risk. Such orientations
and role prescriptions inhibit development of self-confidence, innovativeness,
achievement motivation and risk taking ability which are essential for an
entrepreneurial career.

In Hindu scriptures, a woman has been described as the embodiment of

Shakti (Durga). But in real life she is treated as abla (weak and dependent).
Women in traditional societies are still confined to the four walls of home,
children, household affairs and family rituals. Very few get the opportunity to
come out of the four walls and enter economic activities. In a male-dominated
society, women are not treated as equal partners. To conclude, man has not
been fair to the fair sex in economic life.
 THE CONCEPT OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS:

Women entrepreneurs may be defined as the women or a group of

women who initiate, organize and operate a business enterprise. According to
Schumpeter an entrepreneur in an innovating individual who introduces
something new into the economy. However, such innovators are rarely found in
the underdeveloped countries. What is primarily needed in this countries per se
is not innovators, but imitators or the humbler entrepreneurs capable of exploiting
the hitherto existing possibilities on a small scale. The enterprise of these people
may be small and unimpressive when judged by standards of the developed
countries. But the high propensity to imitate can set in motion the chain reaction
which leads to cumulative progress. Thus in the Indian context, entrepreneur is
more an adapter and imitator than a true innovator. He is more the Marshall’s
organizer of productive factors than Schumpeter’s creative disturber. Any women
or group of women which innovates, amitates or adapts an economic activity may
be called women entrepreneurship.

According to the government of India, a women entrepreneur is defined as

“an enterprise owned and controlled by a women and having a minimum financial
interest of 51 percent of the capital and giving at least 51 percent of the
employing generated in the enterprise to women”. Women entrepreneurs are
opposing the condition of employing more than 50 percent women workers. They
point out that this condition is discriminatory. Enterprises set up by women
should be provided with incentives and support on the basis of their ownership
and management characteristic and not linked with employment of women.
 FUNCTIONS AND ROLE OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS:

Like a male entrepreneur, a women entrepreneur must perform five functions.

1. Explore the prospects of starting new enterprises.

2. Undertaking of risks and the handling of economic uncertainties.
3. Introduction of innovations.
4. Coordination, administration and control.
5. Routine supervision.

All these functions appear to be some what uneven in character.

Moreover, these functions are not always of equal importance. For instance, risk
taking and innovation are paramount for establishing or diversifying an
enterprise. Coordination and supervision became increasingly important in
improving the efficiency and assuming smooth, balanced operation of the
undertaking. In women enterprises, usually the same lady performs all these
functions. Most likely, she is also the owner of the enterprise.

Women entrepreneurs can more easily undertake three types of industrial

enterprises:
(1) operate purely as a sub-contractor on raw materials provided by the
customer;

(2) Manufacture the item to the long or short term order of another enterprise
usually a large scale unit; and

(3) Manufacture the item for direct sale in the market. Generally, the first two
types of enterprises are known as ancillaries. Women entrepreneurs produce
both consumer goods and intermediate goods which are used in the production
of the other articles.
 ROLE OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR’S ASSOCIATIONS:

These are the following objectives of women entrepreneurs association:

1. To provide a meeting ground for women entrepreneurs.

2. To promote & develop feeling of unity & brotherhood among the

entrepreneurs.

3. To develop self-confidence & hope among female entrepreneurs.

4. To present the problem of women entrepreneurs before the concerned

authorities for consideration and redressal.

5. To secure various concessions, subsidies, and assistance for women

entrepreneurs.

6. To conduct entrepreneurial development programme for women.

7. To organize seminars and conferences on entrepreneurship with the help

of other national and international bodies.

8. To secure wider dispersal o entrepreneurship among women.

 TYPES OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS ASSOCIATIONS:

1. WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS WING OF NAYE: -

The national alliance of young entrepreneurs. It has a separate wing for

women entrepreneurs in India. It seeks to create unity among female
entrepreneurs& encourages them to participate actively in the country’s
industrialization. It urges the central and state government to provide
special incentives and facilities to women entrepreneurs such as liberal
allocation land, sheds, etc.

2. INDIA COUNIL OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: -

It is situated in New Delhi and is rendering valuable services for the

promotion of women entrepreneurship in the country.

3. FICCI LADIES ORGANIZATION: -

This is known as Federation of Indian chamber of commerce and industry.

This organization inspires women, to take a active part in business and
other fields. It organizes meetings and discussions. It also recognizes
women who have made a mark in the field of industry.

4. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON SELF EMPLOYED WOMEN IN

INFORMAL SECTOR : -

This commission expects the vast network of Mahila Mandals in India, to

obtain raw material, credit and market assistance for women
entrepreneurs. It has suggested consumer cooperatives, super market
state emporia and government depots, as channels for marketing produce
of women entrepreneurs.

5. WORLD ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: -

This association organizes international conferences on women

entrepreneurship sponsored by NAYE at New Delhi in 1984. its aim is to
bring together all women who are qualified to take up an active and
leading part in employer organizations, along with their male colleagues. It
seeks to explore and advise on the means by which the rights and duties
of women in business and industry should be asserted and improved. The
 association has a membership of more than 27,000 women entrepreneurs
from all over the world.

There are also some state level associations of women entrepreneurs

such as:
1. Association of women entrepreneurs of Karnataka.
2. Self-employed women’s association of Ahmedabad.

These associations are also doing considerable work for the benefit of women
entrepreneurs.