INSTRUCTION TO APPLY FOR PMRY SCHEME

1. The applicants should be in between 18-40 years with 5 year supper age relaxation for Schedule Castes/ Tribes accordingly to
School Certificate
2. The applicant should be Class VIII passed and above (Certificate and Mark sheet should be enclosed duly countersigned by the
Inspector of school of for below Matric) or ITI passed and persons who have undergone the government sponsored technical
course for a minimum duration of 6 months.
3. The applicant should be permanent resident or resides at least 3 years in the same locality (Certificate from the headman, Sirdar
etc., should be enclosed and the applicant should enclose a Ration Card in support of their residence/ the electoral roll or EPIC).
4. Family Income should be upto Rs. 40,000/- per annum of family and Rs. 40,000/- per annum of parents of the beneficiary.
5. The applicant includes any member of the family must not be a loanee or a defaulter from any Bank or Financial Institution
recognised by the Government.
6. The applicant should submit the recent passport size photograph duly attested by the Gazetted Officer.
7. Non-Tribal applicant will have to furnish a Trading License issued by the District Council where ever it is applicable.
8. Application submitted after the last date will not be accepted under any circumstances.
9. Incomplete application form will be rejected and no correspondence will be made.
10. Self-employment Registration Card should be enclosed.
11. Prepared Scheme/ Project should be submitted along with the application (in plain paper).
12. Preference will be given to those applying for industry.

Function and Objectives

The primary function and objectives of the Directorate of Industries are supervision and control of
District Level functionaries, i.e., the District Industries Centres in implementation of the various schemes and programmes of the
Department.

The basic objective of the Department is also to act as the Nodal Promotional Agency in the development of industries and industries
activities in the State as a whole.
And to promote and achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the Department organises and implements various programmes and
schemes to provide the basic infrastructural facilities for the creation of industrial awareness and atmosphere viz.,

1. Investment Awareness Programmes

2. Entrepreneurship Development Programmes
3. Workshop and seminars etc.

Besides, the Department also runs regular vocational training courses for creation of skilled manpower in the following trades: -

1. Knitting
2. Tailoring and Embroidery
3. Carpentry and Furniture making
4. Leather, Blacksmith and Fabrication
5. Carpet Weaving

To replacement the above purpose, regular sponsoring with stipend is also offered to local youths for
under-going training and study courses both inside and outside the State.

The Department also provides grants-in-aid loans to some of the autonomous bodies and subsidiaries like the M.K.V.I.B., M.H.H.D.C.,
M.E.D.C., M.C.C.L. etc., every year.

To accelerate the pace of industrialisation process, infrastructure development and development of industrial areas and estates are
being given importance.

Financial Assistance is made available to tiny/ cottage, to large/ medium sector of industrial units in the form of grants-in-aid to
technical entrepreneurs to package scheme of incentives and central transport subsidy.

Some of the scarce raw materials like paraffin wax, iron and steel materials are also allotted to register industrial units at concessional
rates.
Every year, a number of local entrepreneurs are nominated for selection of National Awards to: -

i. Small Scale Industries and

ii. Handloom and Handicrafts Artisans

Major Plan Scheme

Development of Industrial Areas and Estates

With the passing of time, there has been a steep rise i n scarcity of suitable land for setting up of industrial
projects. Therefore, to meet the above demand clutched with other basic Industrial Infrastructures, like road, water, power etc., the Department have
acquired suitable plots of land almost in every district of the state and developed them into industrial areas and estates. And for
efficient maintenance of these Industrial Areas and Estates, the Department has a specific annual plan scheme
known as Development of Industrial Areas and Estates.

Man Power General Schemes

In order to create skill technical and managerial entrepreneurs, the Department, through the District Industries Centres (D.I.Cs.) and
State Financial and Industrial Development Corporation, i.e., Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation (M.I.D.C.) sponsors local
youths with suitable stipend to undergo training studies so that they meet either the local demand or set up Industries of their own as
self-employment ventures after successful completion of their courses.

These schemes are:

1. Manpower Training Scheme and

2. Entrepreneurial Development Programme

Feasibility Studies
As consultancy and study for identification of viable industrial projects, the Department, through the Meghalaya Industrial Development
Corporation (M.I.D.C.) have undertaken a feasibility studies of several Industrial projects, in which the Meghalaya Industrial
Development Corporation can take part in its equity participation.

Financial Operation

In order to enable the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation (M.I.D.C.) to meet its requirement of fund as a financial
institution, the Department extends fund to the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation under the scheme of Financial
Operation.

Package Scheme of Incentives

With the announcement of the State’s Industrial Policy in May 3, 1988 , the Department extended the various
package of incentive to small-scale medium and large-scale industries for specific period of 5 (Five) or 7 (Seven) years for different
item.

These state incentives are available to industrial units after they are established and permanently registered with the State Directorate
of Industries or the District Industries Centre (D.I.C.) as the case may be.

Share Capital Contribution

As a Promotional Department, the Department do take part in Share Capital Contribution to: -

1. Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation (M.I.D.C.)

2. Mawmluh Cherra Cements Limited (M.C.C.L.)
3. Meghalaya Khadi And Village Industries Board (M.K.V.I.B.)
4. Meghalaya Handloom And Handicrafts Development Corporation (M.H.H.D.C.)
5. Meghalaya Electronics Development Corporation (M.E.D.C.)

Transport Subsidy Scheme

A major fiscal assistance is received by the local Industries by way of Transport Subsidy against the expenditure incurred by these units
either by importing their requirement of raw materials, or exporting of their finished products from or to outside the state.

The requirement of fund for the purpose is reimbursed by the Central Government after the claims are disbursed on cent per cent basis.

District Industries Centre Programmes

The innovative scheme of District Industries Centre Programmes was introduced by the Government of India to provide all facilities to
entrepreneurs under a single roof.

Under the scheme, each district of the state will have a fully functional District Industries Centres (D.I.Cs) manned with managerial
expertise in different streams.

Activities of Industries Department

Small Scale Registration

Small Scale Industries (S.S.I.) Registration is voluntary and not compulsory. However, an Industrial
undertaking has to be registered with the State Directorate of Industries in order to avail some of the basic facilities like land or sheds in
Industrial Area and Estates, Bank or Institutional Finance, State Incentives and Central Grant of Transport Subsidies.

S.S.I. Registration is done in two stages i.e.,: -

1. Provisional Registration : When an Industrial Project is under proposal or, in preliminary stage.
2. Permanent/ Final/ Registration : When of effective steps have already been taken up towards implementation of the projects and
it is ready to go into production or when a unit is already existing and functioning.

Scheme for Self Employment of the Educated Unemployed Youth

The Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (P.M.R.Y.) was introduced in 1993-94 with 95% loan for all type of ventures such as:-

Upper Limit
i. Industry Rs. 2,00,000/-
ii. Services Rs. 2,00,000/-
iii. Business Rs. 1,00,000/-

Normal Industrial Loan

The District Industries Centres (D.I.Cs) do appraise and sponsor normal industrial loan cases to financial institutions, for long term loan
and to the commercial banks for short term lending for working capital requirements.

EMPs/ EDPs/ Investment Awareness Programme

Towards motivation of the local people and to create Industrial Awareness atmosphere, the Department organised Entrepreneurial
Motivation Programmes (EMPs), Entrepreneurial Motivation Developments (EDPs) and Investment Awareness Programmes at identified
growth centre throughout the state.

Departmental Training Programme

In order to meet the local demand of skilled hands and also to equip the local youths for self-employment ventures, the

Department runs regular vocational courses in the trade of :

1. Knitting
2. Tailoring and Embroidery
3. Carpet Weaving
4. Carpentry and Furniture making
5. Leather, Blacksmith and Fabrication works etc

The trainees are granted with monthly stipend at nominal basis. On completion of the training course, as a follow up, Grants-in-aid
both in cash and kind are made available to these technical entrepreneurs to set up self-employment ventures of their own.
 Departmental Training Inside and Outside the State
Under the scheme of training inside and outside the state, the Department sponsors local youths with stipend to undergo vocational
training both inside and outside the state to create skilled manpower who can either be employed in local industries or start self-
employment ventures of their own.
Training under the Practicing Master Craftsman
Like in the scheme of training inside and outside the state, under the above-mentioned schemes also stipend to trainee craftsman
and honorarium of master craftsman are offered.

Provisions of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 - Interest not to be allowed as deduction from income

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (MSMEDA, 2006) which provides for facilitating the promotion and deve-
lopment and enhancing the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises has come into force from 2-10-2006. The provisions of
sections 22 and 23 of the said Act have a bearing on the assessment of ‘buyers’ under the Income-tax Act, 1961. Here, the term ‘buyer’ means a
person who buys any goods or receives any services from a ‘supplier’ for a consideration.

2. Section 23 of MSMEDA, 2006 lays down that the amount of interest payable or paid by any buyer under or in accordance with the
provisions of this Act shall not be allowed as deduction in the computation of income. Section 22 of the MSMEDA, 2006, inter alia, requires
disclosure of the principal and interest due thereon separately in the annual statement of accounts. This enables the Assessing Officers to
ascertain correct amount of disallowance on account of interest payable or paid by the buyer.

3. The relevant sections of the aforementioned Act are reproduced in the Annexure for convenience of reference.
ANNEXURE
RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT ACT, 2006
“Section 22 : Where any buyer is required to get his annual accounts audited under any law for the time being in force, such buyer shall
furnish the following additional information in his annual statement of accounts, namely :—
(i) the principal amount and the interest due thereon (to be shown separately) remaining unpaid to any supplier as at the end of each
accounting year;
(ii) the amount of interest paid by the buyer in terms of section 16, along with the amount of the payment made to the supplier beyond the
appointed day during each accounting year;
(iii) the amount of interest due and payable for the period of delay in making payment (which have been paid but beyond the appointed day
during the year) but without adding the interest specified under this Act;
(iv) the amount of interest accrued and remaining unpaid at the end of each accounting year; and
 (v) the amount of further interest remaining due and payable even in the succeeding years, until such date when the interest dues as above
are actually paid to the small enterprise, for the purpose of disallowance as a deductible expenditure under section 23.
Section 23 : Notwithstanding anything contained in the Income-tax Act, 1961, the amount of interest payable or paid by any buyer, under or
in accordance with the provisions of this Act, shall not, for the purposes of computation of income under the Income-tax Act, 1961, be
allowed as deduction.”
2. The definition of a supplier under section 2 of the above-mentioned Act is also reproduced below :—
2(n) : “supplier” means a micro or small enterprise, which has filed a memorandum with the authority referred to in sub-section (1) of
section 8, and includes,-
(i) the National Small Industries Corporation, being a company, registered under the Companies Act, 1956;
(ii) the Small Industries Development Corporation of a State or a Union Territory, by whatever name called, being a company registered
under the Companies Act, 1956;
(iii) any company, co-operative society, trust or a body, by whatever name called, registered or constituted under any law for the time being
in force and engaged in selling goods produced by micro or small enterprises and rendering services which are provided by such
enterprises.”

3. Section 7(1) of the Act defines micro and small enterprises.

A “micro enterprise” means any class or classes of enterprises, whether proprietorship, HUF, Association of persons, co-operative society,
partnership firm, company or undertaking, by whatever name called, if its investment in plant and machinery does not exceed twenty five lakh
rupees if it is engaged in the manufacture or production of goods pertaining to any industry specified in the First Schedule to the Industries
(Development and Regulation) Act, 1951. However, if the enterprise is engaged in providing or rendering of services, the investment in its
equipment should not exceed ten lakh rupees.

A “small enterprise” - the definition of “small enterprise” is similar to that of a “micro enterprise” except that the amount of investments in case
of a manufacturing enterprise is more than rupees twenty lakh but does not exceed rupees five crore, and in a case of service enterprise it is
more than rupees ten lakh but does not exceed rupees two crore.

Instruction : No. 12/2006, dated 14-12-2006.

Kerala

‘Women entrepreneurs enjoy high social status’

Special Correspondent
Their major problem is finance: study

Women achieve 100% growth in turnover, income

Their repayment record is excellent, the study says

KOCHI: Most of the women entrepreneurs in Kerala and Tamil Nadu were enjoying a very high social and economic status after becoming
entrepreneurs. However, in both the States, their participation in social and political activities was very low and their access to Information and
Communication Technology was also not satisfactory.

This is one of the major findings of a study conducted by S. Santha of St. Peter’s College, Kolenchery, near here. Her study was to compare the
women entrepreneurship in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. For this study, she interviewed 487 women entrepreneurs and 379 permanent employees of
the organisations and also from 25 government agencies and 32 financial institutions, says a communication.

The major skill developed through entrepreneurship by most of the women entrepreneurs in Kerala and Tamil Nadu was communication. But
they still lacked independence.

Most of the women entrepreneurs in Kerala and Tamil Nadu were able to achieve a growth of 100 per cent and more in the total assets, annual
turnover, working capital, annual income and annual savings, etc. But significant differences were found in their annual sales, income,
expenditure and annual savings.

Women entrepreneurs in Kerala were better aware of government agencies than their counterparts in Tamil Nadu. However; most of them in
both the States had no awareness of government agencies.

The major service utilised from the government agencies by the women entrepreneurs in both the States was training. Most of the respondents
in Kerala attended PMRY training, whereas it was EDP training in Tamil Nadu. The majority of those who attended the training were extremely
satisfied.

Most of the government agencies and financial institutions in Tamil Nadu opined that women entrepreneurs were excellent in repaying loan.

The government agencies also stated that their participation in training was excellent. Most of the women entrepreneurs who availed
themselves of the services of the government agencies (in both the States) were extremely satisfied with the services.
The majority of the women entrepreneurs in both the States approached public sector banks for financial assistance.

But they had not much awareness about the financial Institutions/lending schemes.

www.hindu.com/2007/12/16/stories/2007121656711500

Woman power on the Web

Rina Chandran

According to a recently released report, the number of women online in the US has overtaken the number of men.

It's a world wide women's web, announced Media Metrix Inc and Jupiter Communications in a recent report. According to the report, the
number of women online in the US surpassed the number of men for the first time ever, in the first quarter of 2000. Wome n currently
make up 50.4 per cent of the total online population in the US, and are outpacing men in both number and growth rate. In fact, the
population of women online is growing more rapidly than the online population, overall.

The study examined women's online behavioural patterns across various age groups and life stages, covering over 55,000 home and
business users. It was conducted jointly by Media Metrix Inc, a leader in Internet and digital media measurement, and Jupiter
Communications, which conducts research on Internet commerce.

``We have seen a steady growth in the population of women online since 1996, when it was just 38 per cent of the total online
population,'' says Anne Rickert, analyst at Media Metrix Inc. According to the report, the most notable increase by age group fr om 1999
to 2000 was among teen girls aged 12-17 years, which jumped more than 126.3 per cent. The sites that recorded the most number of
hits were those that catered to key user interests: fashion magazines, shopping and music. By comparison, the greates t per cent gain
among male web users, also among 12-17 year olds, was only 45.4 per cent.

The other segment that showed an impressive growth rate was women aged 55 years and over, whose visitor count climbed 109.5 per
cent over the past year. They visited sites offering content on family, health, genealogy and humour.

``Senior women are creating an exciting new presence online,'' confirms Rickert. ``Typically, these are women who have not been
introduced to the Internet in the workplace or in college, but by their family and friends much later. And, it is almost as if they are now
making up for lost time,'' she adds.

Rickert points out that the sites most often visited by these women reflected their offline interests and concerns. ``At this point in life
they are taking stock of their lives, reflecting on family history and paying more attention to their health,'' sh e notes. ``And, more and
more of them are discovering that the Internet is a great way to get information that may not be so readily available to them offline,''
she adds.

So, whether it is researching Alka-Seltzer or constructing the family tree, older women are quickly becoming a significant presence
online.

Radha Basu, CEO, Support.com, a software maker, offers an explanation: ``The Internet enables women to forget their inhibitions -- it
doesn't matter what you look like or what you are wearing. Also, because it is faceless, it is very conducive to bringin g out their skills
and desires.''

The study reported that the properties drawing the highest number of female visitors are popular portals, Internet services and search
engines such as AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Lycos, Excite@Home and About.com. These sites offer wide-ranging content to a b road
demographic group of users, and so their composition reflects that of the online population as a whole.

Major women's portals that record high numbers of unique visitors include ivillage, the women.com, on health and the oxygen network.
While these niche sites may not draw the greatest numbers of visitors, they often have a higher concentration of users fr om key
demographic groups. Analysts predict that niche sites have enormous growth potential, but they will first have to define their target
audience, and then tailor content based on user interests, personal identities and affinities.

``The sites that will see their visitor numbers grow will be those that are not just targeted at women in general, but women of
particular age groups,'' explains Rickert. ``These sites will never have the same number of unique visitors as the portals, bu t they will
succeed in capturing a very specific target market online,'' she adds.

Rickert cites the example of women in the 24-35 years bracket, a highly desired target audience for numerous marketers. They are
most highly concentrated among sites offering content, community and products focused on child care. Women in the age group 3 5-44
years, a segment which grew 4.6 per cent from 1999 to 2000, frequently visit retail and product information sites while shopping for
everyday products such as groceries, feminine products, baby care products and pet food.
``Women of this age group have the greatest consumer orientation online as they are usually shopping for the entire household,''
comments Rickert. ``They use the Internet to check out products, compare prices, maybe receive free samples, and either compl ete
transactions online or simply prepare themselves to make informed buying decisions,'' she adds.

Mirroring an offline trend of greater numbers of women making independent investment and purchase decisions, another area seeing a
rise in the number of female visitors is auto information Web sites.

``While the man of the house still tends to make the actual buying decision, women are now learning more -- comparing brand features
and prices -- so that they feel more comfortable and on a more level playing field when they walk into a dealership,'' sa ys Rickert.

What is easily apparent from the study is that women go online for practical reasons such as shopping, travel reservations and to seek
specific information, not for updates on their favorite soaps. Since their needs are so well defined, and since they al so tend to be
pressed for time, they are interested in an efficient experience. Conversely, men are more interested in technology and in the more
random aspects of Net surfing; they tend to roam around, sometimes looking for entertainment or amusement.

``Women tend to be concentrated around sites which enable them to get on and off quickly,'' confirms Rickert. ``They do not spend a
lot of time playing around or downloading stuff, which men are more inclined to do,'' she adds. Women are also strongly in fluenced by
confidants and peers, and are more likely to be loyal to a few chosen sites; these are facts that marketers will be paying close attention
to.

Across the Atlantic, online behavior among women closely reflects the pattern in the US; European women also use the Internet to
gather specific information to make their lives easier, rather than indiscriminate surfing. The fastest growing online popula tion of
females is in Germany, and among the most popular sites are those related to retail, careers and travel.

The Internet means more than just shopping for women the world over, says Basu, pointing to the growing number of women
entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and elsewhere in the US. ``The Internet has really given women an opportunity to participate in the ne
w economy . . . especially entrepreneurs, because it frees them up from the reticence of dealing with a predominantly male
environment,'' she, says.

Basu, herself an example of someone who broke into a male bastion, is particularly excited by the opportunities that the Internet
presents for women in countries such as India. She believes that we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg in India, where t he hype
about Asia's Silicon Valley and IIT's wannabe-millionaires is obscuring one fact about a growing base of Internet users: The traditional
`Mylapore mami' kind, who are largely ignored by marketers targeting teen-agers and yuppies.

``These women are so enthusiastic and comfortable about sending e-mail, downloading pictures of their grandchildren and keeping up
with their families through the Internet. They will be a significant part of the market there,'' she predicts.
Time will tell if Basu is right. Rickert, for one, is convinced that the trend will continue in the US. ``This (statistic) is definitely not a
fluke -- women are now achieving gender parity online. They may not dramatically outnumber men, but they will c ontinue to capture a
greater percentage of the total online population,'' she says.

Meanwhile, marketers and advertisers are discovering that the pot of gold at the end of the Internet rainbow has a lot of silver in it.

www.thehindubusinessline.com/businessline/2000/09/28/stories/112802c5.htm - 15k -

Sponsored Links

Problems of Women Entrepreneurs in India

By

Prof. Dileep Kumar M.

Ex-Professor
Symbiosis (SCMHRD, SCDL), IIIT, SCMLD, SBS
Pune

Introduction

Women Entrepreneurs may be defined as the women or a group of women who initiate, organize and
operate a business enterprise. Government of India has defined women entrepreneurs as an enterprise
owned and controlled by a women having a minimum financial interest of 51% of the capital and giving at
least 51% of employment generated in the enterprise to women. Like a male entrepreneurs a women
entrepreneur has many functions. They should 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.

Push-Pull factors and Women in business

Women in business are a recent phenomenon in India. By and large they had confide themselves to petty
business and tiny cottage industries. Women entrepreneurs engaged in business due to push and pull
factors. Which encourage women to have an independent occupation and stands on their on legs. A sense
towards independent decision-making on their life and career is the motivational factor behind this urge.
Saddled with household chores and domestic responsibilities women want to get independence Under the
influence of these factors the women entrepreneurs choose a profession as a challenge and as an urge to
do some thing new. Such situation is described as pull factors. While in push factors women engaged in
business activities due to family compulsion and the responsibility is thrust upon them.

Problems of Women Entrepreneurs in India

Women in India are faced many problems to get ahead their life in business. A few problems cane be
detailed as;

1. The greatest deterrent to women entrepreneurs is that they are women. A kind of patriarchal – male
dominant social order is the building block to them in their way towards business success. Male members
think it a big risk financing the ventures run by women.

2. The financial institutions are skeptical about the entrepreneurial abilities of women. The bankers
consider women loonies as higher risk than men loonies. The bankers put unrealistic and unreasonable
securities to get loan to women entrepreneurs. According to a report by the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO), "despite evidence that women's loan repayment rates are higher than
men's, women still face more difficulties in obtaining credit," often due to discriminatory attitudes of banks
and informal lending groups (UNIDO, 1995b).

3. Entrepreneurs usually require financial assistance of some kind to launch their ventures - be it a formal
bank loan or money from a savings account. Women in developing nations have little access to funds, due
to the fact that they are concentrated in poor rural communities with few opportunities to borrow money
(Starcher, 1996; UNIDO, 1995a). The women entrepreneurs are suffering from inadequate financial
resources and working capital. The women entrepreneurs lack access to external funds due to their
inability to provide tangible security. Very few women have the tangible property in hand.

4. Women's family obligations also bar them from becoming successful entrepreneurs in both developed
and developing nations. "Having primary responsibility for children, home and older dependent family
members, few women can devote all their time and energies to their business" (Starcher, 1996, p. 8).The
financial institutions discourage women entrepreneurs on the belief that they can at any time leave their
business and become housewives again. The result is that they are forced to rely on their own savings,
and loan from relatives and family friends.

5. Indian women give more emphasis to family ties and relationships. Married women have to make a fine
balance between business and home. More over the business success is depends on the support the family
members extended to women in the business process and management. The interest of the family
members is a determinant factor in the realization of women folk business aspirations.
6. Another argument is that women entrepreneurs have low-level management skills. They have to depend
on office staffs and intermediaries, to get things done, especially, the marketing and sales side of business.
Here there is more probability for business fallacies like the intermediaries take major part of the surplus
or profit. Marketing means mobility and confidence in dealing with the external world, both of which
women have been discouraged from developing by social conditioning. Even when they are otherwise in
control of an enterprise, they often depend on males of the family in this area.

7. The male - female competition is another factor, which develop hurdles to women entrepreneurs in the
business management process. Despite the fact that women entrepreneurs are good in keeping their
service prompt and delivery in time, due to lack of organisational skills compared to male entrepreneurs
women have to face constraints from competition. The confidence to travel across day and night and even
different regions and states are less found in women compared to male entrepreneurs. This shows the low
level freedom of expression and freedom of mobility of the women entrepreneurs.

8. Knowledge of alternative source of raw materials availability and high negotiation skills are the basic
requirement to run a business. Getting the raw materials from different souse with discount prices is the
factor that determines the profit margin. Lack of knowledge of availability of the raw materials and low-
level negotiation and bargaining skills are the factors, which affect women entrepreneur's business
adventures.

9. Knowledge of latest technological changes, know how, and education level of the person are significant
factor that affect business. The literacy rate of women in India is found at low level compared to male
population. Many women in developing nations lack the education needed to spur successful
entrepreneurship. They are ignorant of new technologies or unskilled in their use, and often unable to do
research and gain the necessary training (UNIDO, 1995b, p.1). Although great advances are being made in
technology, many women's illiteracy, strucutural difficulties, and lack of access to technical training prevent
the technology from being beneficial or even available to females ("Women Entrepreneurs in Poorest
Countries," 2001). According to The Economist, this lack of knowledge and the continuing treatment of
women as second-class citizens keeps them in a pervasive cycle of poverty ("The Female Poverty Trap,"
2001). The studies indicates that uneducated women donot have the knowledge of measurement and basic
accounting.

10. Low-level risk taking attitude is another factor affecting women folk decision to get into business.
Low-level education provides low-level self-confidence and self-reliance to the women folk to engage in
business, which is continuous risk taking and strategic cession making profession. Investing money,
maintaining the operations and ploughing back money for surplus generation requires high risk taking
attitude, courage and confidence. Though the risk tolerance ability of the women folk in day-to-day life is
high compared to male members, while in business it is found opposite to that.
11. Achievement motivation of the women folk found less compared to male members. The low level of
education and confidence leads to low level achievement and advancement motivation among women folk
to engage in business operations and running a business concern.

12. Finally high production cost of some business operations adversely affects the development of women
entrepreneurs. The installation of new machineries during expansion of the productive capacity and like
similar factors dissuades the women entrepreneurs from venturing into new areas.

How to Develop Women Entrepreneurs?

Right efforts on from all areas are required in the development of women entrepreneurs and their greater
participation in the entrepreneurial activities. Following efforts can be taken into account for effective
development of women entrepreneurs.

1. Consider women as specific target group for all developmental programmes.

2. Better educational facilities and schemes should be extended to women folk from government part.

3. Adequate training programme on management skills to be provided to women community.

4. Encourage women's participation in decision-making.

5. Vocational training to be extended to women community that enables them to understand the
production process and production management.

6. Skill development to be done in women's polytechnics and industrial training institutes. Skills are put to
work in training-cum-production workshops.

7. Training on professional competence and leadership skill to be extended to women entrepreneurs.

8. Training and counselling on a large scale of existing women entrepreneurs to remove psychological
causes like lack of self-confidence and fear of success.

9. Counselling through the aid of committed NGOs, psychologists, managerial experts and technical
personnel should be provided to existing and emerging women entrepreneurs.

10. Continuous monitoring and improvement of training programmes.

11. Activities in which women are trained should focus on their marketability and profitability.
12. Making provision of marketing and sales assistance from government part.

13. To encourage more passive women entrepreneurs the Women training programme should be organised
that taught to recognize her own psychological needs and express them.

14. State finance corporations and financing institutions should permit by statute to extend purely trade
related finance to women entrepreneurs.

15. Women's development corporations have to gain access to open-ended financing.

16. The financial institutions should provide more working capital assistance both for small scale venture
and large scale ventures.

17. Making provision of micro credit system and enterprise credit system to the women entrepreneurs at
local level.

18. Repeated gender sensitisation programmes should be held to train financiers to treat women with
dignity and respect as persons in their own right.

19. Infrastructure, in the form of industrial plots and sheds, to set up industries is to be provided by state
run agencies.

20. Industrial estates could also provide marketing outlets for the display and sale of products made by
women.

21. A Women Entrepreneur's Guidance Cell set up to handle the various problems of women entrepreneurs
all over the state.

22. District Industries Centres and Single Window Agencies should make use of assisting women in their
trade and business guidance.

23. Programmes for encouraging entrepreneurship among women are to be extended at local level.

24. Training in entrepreneurial attitudes should start at the high school level through well-designed
courses, which build confidence through behavioral games.

25. More governmental schemes to motivate women entrepreneurs to engage in small scale and large-
scale business ventures.
26. Involvement of Non Governmental Organisations in women entrepreneurial training programmes and
counselling.

Conclusion

Independence brought promise of equality of opportunity in all sphere to the Indian women and laws
guaranteeing for their equal rights of participation in political process and equal opportunities and rights in
education and employment were enacted. But unfortunately, the government sponsored development
activities have benefited only a small section of women. The large majority of them are still unaffected by
change and development activities have benefited only a small section of women i.e. the urban middle
class women. The large majority of them are still unaffected by change and development. The reasons are
well sighted in the discussion part of this article. It is hoped that the suggestions forwarded in the article
will help the entrepreneurs in particular and policy-planners in general to look into this problem and
develop better schemes, developmental programmes and opportunities to the women folk to enter into
more entrepreneurial ventures. This article here tries to recollect some of the successful women
entrepreneurs like Ekta Kapoor, Creative Director, Balaji Telefilms, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CEO, Biocon,
Shahnaz Husain and Vimalben M Pawale, Ex President, Sri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad (SMGULP)