Out of Shell: Charming Avenue or Economic Compulsion? A Strategic Review on Women Entrepreneurship in Orissa
International Research Journal for Social Science and Corporate Excellence (IRJSSCE), Volume 1, Issue 2; pp. 13-23
14 Pages Posted: 19 Mar 2013 Last revised: 1 Apr 2013
Date Written: March 8, 2013
Abstract
The present paper attempts to analyze the concept of women entrepreneurship as an integral part of women empowerment in Orissa since the early Nineties and the changing role of women in the entrepreneurial world from the traditional sectors of handicraft and cottage industries to the hi-tech male dominated non-traditional sectors of engineering, chemical, electronics, energy, etc., during the current era. It carries out an in-depth discussion about the present status-quo of women entrepreneurs in Orissa and categories them into four parts. It observed that for the “upper class” category of women, being into entrepreneurship is a way to utilize their time & money skillfully & productively with a motive to reach the pinnacle of success keeping in toes with their celebrity status for necessary social recognition and psychological satisfaction; whereas, an “upper middle class” just follow these Role Models. The paper observes and identifies them to be the women entrepreneurs in focus rather than the real contributors to the economy and house holds, the “middle class” and “lower middle class” categories of women entrepreneurs, for whom entrepreneurship is in fact a commitment to provide supplements to their family income. It is not a ‘bed of roses’ for them keeping in view of their dual role at home & office in one hand and the social threats due to gender biasness & financial constraints on the other hand. The paper found them to be the most needful category to support, and discussed at a length about several schemes of the State Govt, SIDBI, District Industrial Centers, Voluntary Organizations and NGOs that aims to aware and motivates the grass-root women groups of rural and semi urban segment of the state for self employment and economic independence. The end findings of this paper accept the reality “women are the home makers and office managers” thereby rejecting the myth “women are the home makers only”, and makes a statement to the masculine of the society to change their protective psychology and repose best confidence measures in the ability of their counterparts who are equally skilled at work and mature in strategic decision making.
Keywords: Women Entrepreneurship, Women Empowerment, Categorization of Women Entrepreneurs, Social Threat, Social & Economic Independence, Family Conflict, Role Model, Gender Biasness, Economic Compulsion, Orissa, India
JEL Classification: M13
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation