A Study on the Rural Dalit Women Entrepreneurs in Almora District of Uttarakhand State

Amaldass M., Neema Gnanadev, M. Hilaria Soundari

Medailon autorů:

Amaldass M. is a PhD research scholar (full-time) at the Department of Rural Development of the Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed University in Tamil Nadu in India. Main research interests are rural entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, micro-finance, sustainable natural resources management, rural migration and unemployment.

Dr. Neema Gnanadev is an assistant professor at the Department of Rural Development of the Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed University in Tamil Nadu in India. Her main research interests are tribal issues, women and children’s health, micro-planning, women’s entrepreneurship and micro-credit.

Dr. M. Hilaria Soundari is an assistant professor at the Department of Rural Development of the Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed University in Tamil Nadu in India. Her main research interests are development research, gender issues, micro-credit, women’s empowerment and sustainable development.

Anotace:

It is estimated that 833 million people continue to live in rural India (The Census, 2011 in Hazare, 2011). ‘The development and transformation of rural economy requires rapid expansion of employment and income opportunities’ (Planning Commission, 2009). Women entrepreneurs have proven that there is “a source of immense untapped power in the womanhood of India” (Hall, 1992). Economically empowered women contributed to the wealth and well-being not only of their families, but also of their nations (Blumberg, 1995). The Self Help group-bank linkage process in India paved the way for the emergence of rural women Entrepreneurs4 in the recent decades. The strategic enhancement of women’s entrepreneurship could lead to economic growth and inclusive prosperity in the rural areas. A study was made to highlight the entrepreneurial scenario of rural Dalit entrepreneurs in the Dauladevi block of Almora district, Uttarakhand State, India. A total of 20 women involved in various micro enterprises were selected. The study underscores various factors and strategies for the betterment of rural entrepreneurs in the hill scenario.

Klíčová slova:

women’s entrepreneurship, Dalit women, rural economy, rural development

s. 71–91