Rural Dalit Women Entrepreneurs and Development Scenario: A Study

Pandit Nehru affirmed that women development/ empowerment is the basis for the substantial growth of a family, a village, or a nation. Development/upliftment of women is an essential ingredient of human development. Entrepreneurship development among the rural women folk would strengthen the village economy and promote regional development. The women entrepreneurs have proved that there is a source of immense untapped power in the womanhood of India (Margaret, 1992). Women undoubtedly are the backbone of the socio-economic-cultural aspects in the hill scenario. The subsistence agriculture which leads to low and unstable incomes, which in turn lead to a sizeable out-migration of male members that leads to only women headed families behind, and the role of women in the household economy becomes more important (Rawat, 2004). In the midst of limited opportunities, tough terrains and lack of resources, the contribution of women entrepreneurs to the society is enormous. An attempt was made to highlight the strategies and development aspects of rural women entrepreneurs in Almora district. Entrepreneurs who are engaged in self-employment and innovative entrepreneurial activities were selected for the study. A total of 50 samples were selected and the data were collected through interviews and focus groups. The study reveals various aspects related to rural women entrepreneurship and constraints that need attention so to empower women in their efforts toward integral development.