Rural Women Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Development

This paper discusses the role of entrepreneurship in empowering rural women.

Traditionally, women entrepreneurs have faced many obstacles in marketing their products and owning property. The paper states that increased participation of women in the labor force is a prerequisite for improving the position of women in society. Rural women have basic indigenous knowledge, skills, potential and resources to establish and manage enterprises. They should be provided with:

• Encouragement to start and run microenterprises;
• Knowledge regarding loan accessibility, funding agency requirements and government welfare programs;
• Motivation and support from family;
• Technical training from the government and other organizations;
• Support to form and strengthen self-help-groups (SHGs).

SHGs are increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for the development of rural women. Finally, SHGs and other networks of rural women can impart technical knowledge, motivating other rural women to engage in microentrepreneurship. This helps in strengthening their capacities, and adding to the family income and national productivity.