Page 62 - IMDR JOURNAL 2023-24

IMDR’s Journal of Management Development & Research 2023-24

who own businesses are from the lower- and middle-income brackets and operate service-based enterprises
(Gupta, 2013). Women entrepreneurs are diversifying their businesses beyond pickles, papads, and powders

by entering disciplines such as engineering (Munshi et al, 2011). Female entrepreneurs are now referred to
"techpreneurs" (Charantimath, 2005). Female entrepreneurs dominated the classic & unofficial sectors of our

country’s economy. Yet, female business owners have also moved into emerging industries over the past ten

years.
According to the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation's Sixth Economic Census, which was

performed in 2014, women account for 9 million of India's 59 million entrepreneurs, or 14 percent of all
business owners in the country. This is a relatively modest part of the estimated 135 million female

entrepreneurs who operate their own businesses worldwide. It's significant to note that 4 million of the 9

million women entrepreneurs work in agriculture, with the other 5 million employed in non-agricultural
industries. By providing equal opportunities in all areas of growth, India may increase its GDP by more than

20%, or around $780 billion, by 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund. Women currently
contribute approximately 19 percent of the GDP of the nation, which is below the global average of 45 percent.

Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister, Government of India made an effort to address this issue by forming
a partnership between MUDRA and NABARD as well as women's self-help organisations. During the Covid

19 pandemic, special benefits were also provided under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan's main programmes.

Chart 1 shows the distribution of women workers in 2021–2022.
Chart 1: Distribution of Workers by Gender during 2021-22 in India

( In Lakh)

Distribution of Workers by Gender during 2021-22 in India

844.58
Total 264.92

484.54
Urban 127.2 Male (In Lakh)
Female (In Lakh)

360.15
Rural 137.5

0 200 400 600 800 1000

Source: MSME, Govt. of India

Women employment in rural areas has been found concentrated in agriculture, education, textiles and

apparel, food, manufacturing and personal services (Chart2).