Entrepreneurial Process and Eco-system of Women Entrepreneurs: A Study from Drought Prone Region of Maharashtra

Abstract

Entrepreneurship can be one of the effective solutions to deal with the poverty. It can create a steady income sources for family and improve the standard of living. The studies show that if the women earn, their income is used for family needs. Entrepreneurship suggests pulling of resources for entrepreneurial activity. In patriarchal society like India women's access to resources is very difficult. The women do not own resources and they also are not decision makers about various aspects of their life. The women contribute almost 50% population however the data suggests that there were only 13.72% MSMEs owned by women [2011-12]. The women face socio-cultural and economic hurdles if they want to be entrepreneurs. The present paper is based on a qualitative study of women entrepreneurs from Osmanabad in a drought prone region of Marathwada of Maharashtra. The study explores the entrepreneurial journey of these women and try to understand the factors which motivated them to become entrepreneurs, the difficulties faced and strategies designed by women and also try to estimate how through these activities women have tried to overcome poverty. The study will reflect factors in entrepreneurial eco-system that need to be strengthened to motivate the women's entrepreneurship.