PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF RURAL WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN KANNIYAKUMARI DISTRICT

Abstract

The most significant factor for the economic Growth of a country is its industrialization. In the process of industrialization, emphasis is given to large-scale industries, medium-sale industries, small-scale industries and micro enterprises. In developing nations, micro and small enterprises are important in the context of employment opportunities, equitable distribution of national income, balanced regional growth and development of rural and semi urban areas. However, the rural women entrepreneur manufacturing units face more constraints. With this background, the researchers have made a novel attempt to study the problems and prospects of rural women entrepreneurs in Kanniyakumari district.  In the present study, by adopting simple random sampling, 112 rural women entrepreneurs were selected out of the 1400 rural women entrepreneurs from this district. As an essential part of the study, the primary data were collected from 112 owners of the rural women entrepreneurs with the help of well-designed interview schedule. The study reveals that unattractive market, power cut, lack of financial assistance, inadequate subsidies and concessions, cumbersome formalities and maladministration, problems in marketing of products under capacity utilization, inadequate working capital and dependence on private parties for raw materials are the problems of rural women entrepreneurs in Kanniyakumari district. Effective implementation of the suggestions could lead to the growth of the rural women entrepreneurs eventually result in creation of employment as well as poverty reduction.