Role of Entrepreneurship in Women Empowerment in Kerala

Abstract

In the evolution of civilization, ideas and innovation have been the primary driving force for centuries. Mankind has evolved and maintained a plethora of ideas and inventions and has also succeeded through doing business as a culture. Entrepreneurship across today's modern paradigm has become one of the main economic forces of a nation like India. Women often engage alongside men in the business sector for the major contribution to a country's economy. Women's exposure to socio-economic aspects has improved their livelihoods several times over the last three decades. Various government policies, social recognition and other causes have cleared the stigma about woman entrepreneurs. Women's empowerment has seen a steep rise in Kerala through entrepreneurship policies, schemes, regulations and implementations. Besides the successes, women often experience hardships such as financial difficulties and social recognition. Women engaging in entrepreneurship often appear to be less empowered, but the scenario is different. This paper discusses the successful role of entrepreneurship in empowering women in Kerala. Kudumbashree Community Network, or simply Kudumbashree, is one such project to empower women's lives through entrepreneurship. Initiated by the Government of Kerala, Kudumbashree explicitly illustrates that it has contributed a great deal to women empowerment over the past three decades.