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Research paper© 2012 IJFANS. All Rights Reserved, Journal Volume 11,Iss 11, 2022

A STUDY ON PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF WOMEN

ENTREPRENEURS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO
KANNIYAKUMARI DISTRICT
S.Jenitha Rajathy1,
Ph.D Research Scholar (Part time External (Reg.No.18233161012019),
Department of commerce, Scott Christian College, (Autonomous) Nagercoil- 629003,
(Affiliated to Manonmanium Sundaranar University, Abishegapatti,
Tirunelveli -627012, Tamilnadu India.
E.mail ; [email protected].
Dr. G. Jeslin Viola Pet2,
Assistant Professor,
Department of commerce, Scott Christian College (Autonomous), Nagercoil.-629003
(Affiliated to Manonmanium Sundaranar University, Abishegapatti,
Tirunelveli -627012, Tamilnadu, India,
E.mail : [email protected]

Abstract
Women entrepreneurship plays a significant role in the economic development of a
region. This study aims to analyse the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and
explore the prospects for their growth and success. The research methodology involves a
combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches, including surveys, interviews,
and case studies. The study identifies various problems faced by women entrepreneurs,
such as limited access to finance, lack of family support, societal stereotypes, and
difficulties in balancing work and family responsibilities. Despite these challenges, the
study also highlights several prospects for women entrepreneurs, including government
support programs, access to new markets through digital platforms, and changing societal
attitudes towards women in business. The findings of this study have important
implications for policymakers, business support organizations, and women entrepreneurs
themselves. By addressing the challenges identified and capitalizing on the prospects
available, women entrepreneurs in can overcome barriers to their success and contribute
significantly to the local economy.
Keywords: Entrepreneurship, raising fund, enterprise, determination

1. Introduction
Women entrepreneurship is increasingly recognized as a crucial driver of economic
growth and development worldwide. Women entrepreneurs not only contribute to job
creation and wealth generation but also play a pivotal role in promoting gender equality
and women's empowerment. Despite the growing recognition of the importance of
women entrepreneurship, women continue to face numerous challenges that hinder their
entrepreneurial endeavours. However, like in many other parts of the world, women
entrepreneurs encounter various challenges that affect their ability to start and grow
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Research paper© 2012 IJFANS. All Rights Reserved, Journal Volume 11,Iss 11, 2022

successful businesses. These challenges include limited access to finance, lack of

entrepreneurial skills and training, social and cultural barriers, and difficulties in
balancing work and family responsibilities. Understanding the problems faced by women
entrepreneurs is essential for developing effective strategies to support and promote
women entrepreneurship in the region. Additionally, exploring the prospects available to
women entrepreneurs can help identify opportunities for growth and success.
The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector plays a crucial role in the
socio-economic development of a country, contributing significantly to employment
generation, income generation, and GDP growth. In recent years, there has been a
noticeable increase in the participation of women entrepreneurs in the MSME sector,
driven by various factors such as increasing education levels, changing socio-cultural
norms, and government initiatives promoting women's entrepreneurship. However,
despite these positive trends, MSME women entrepreneurs face several challenges that
hinder their growth and sustainability. Understanding these challenges and exploring the
prospects for MSME women entrepreneurs is crucial for enhancing their participation
and contribution to the economy.

2. Review of literature:
Nayyar et al, (2007) led an investigation on 100 women entrepreneurs in Himachal
Pradesh uncovered that entrepreneurs face requirements in parts of financial, marketing,
production, work place office and medical issues. Financial problems are identified with
non-accessibility of long haul money, customary and visit need of working capital.
Intense challenge from bigger and set up units, poor area of shop and absence of transport
office are real marketing problems. Production problems incorporated the problem of
non-accessibility of crude material, non-accessibility of labour and staggering expense of
machines. Entrepreneurs additionally face medical issues, for example, fatigue, tension
and headache. Women entrepreneurs likewise face problem of ill-advised water and
space office.
Madhurima and Sahai (2008) in their investigation on "Women in Family Business"
directed a relative assessment of multi-dimensional issues and challenges of women
entrepreneurship and family business. The investigation distinguished psychographic
factors, for example, level of commitment, entrepreneurial challenges and future plan for
extension, in view of statistic factors. Through stratified random examining and
accommodation testing, the information has been gathered from women entrepreneurs
who are working in urban areas of Lucknow. This examination distinguished the business
individuals' attributes as self-perception, self-esteem, entrepreneurial power and
operational problem for planning their future growth and development. The examination
likewise proposed that however there has been impressive growth in number of women
picking to work in family possessed business, yet despite everything they have a lower
status and face increasingly operational challenges to lead their business

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Research paper© 2012 IJFANS. All Rights Reserved, Journal Volume 11,Iss 11, 2022

3. Objectives of the study

 To identify the key problems faced by women entrepreneurs in study area.
 To explore the prospects available to women entrepreneurs.
4. Problems of Women Entrepreneurs

The problems and constraints experienced by women entrepreneurs have resulted in

restricting the expansion of women entrepreneurship. Women in India face many
problems to get ahead their life in business. Women entrepreneurs face a series of
problems right from the beginning till the enterprise functions. Being a woman itself
poses various problems to a woman entrepreneur. A desirable atmosphere is necessary
for every woman to inculcate entrepreneurial values and involve greatly in business
dealings. But Women in India are faced many problems to get ahead their life in
business.
Family ties: Women in India are very emotionally attached to their families. They are
supposed to attend to all the domestic work, to look after the children and other members
of the family. They are over burden with family responsibilities like extra attention to
husband, children and in laws which take away a lots of their time and energy. In such
situation, it will be very difficult to concentrate and run the enterprise successfully.
Male dominated society: Even though the constitution speaks of equality between
genders male chauvinism is still the order of the day. Women are not treated equal to
men. Their entry to business requires the approval of the head of the family.
Entrepreneurship has traditionally been seen as a male preserve. All these put a break in
the growth of women entrepreneurs.
Lack of education: Women in India are lagging far behind in the field of education.
Most of the women (around sixty per cent of total women) are illiterate. Those who are
educated are provided either less or inadequate education than their male counterpart
partly due to early marriage, partly due to son's higher education and partly due to
poverty. Due to lack of proper education, women entrepreneurs remain in dark about the
development of new technology, new methods of production, marketing and other
governmental support which will encourage them to flourish.
Self-Confidence: In India women have lack of self-confidence in their strength and
ability. The family members and the society are unwilling to stand beside their
organizational growth. To a certain degree, this situation is changing with Indian women
and yet to face an incredible amend to boost the rate of growth in entrepreneurship.
Socio-Cultural Barriers: Family and personal obligations sometimes works as a great
barrier for succeeding in business career of women entrepreneurship. Only few women
are capable of managing both home and business efficiently, giving sufficient time to
perform all their responsibilities in priority.
Risks Related to Market: Tuff competition in the market and lack of mobility of
women make them dependent on middle man essential. Many business women find it
very difficult to capture the market share and make their products well popular and
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accepted by customer. They are not fully conscious of the changing market environment
conditions and hence can effectively exploit the services of media and internet.
Mobility Constraints : Women in India have to face lot of restriction on their
mobility, our society still have some conservationists, and due to that career of women is
limited to four walls of kitchen. Though women faced lots of problems being mobile in
entrepreneurial activity, the mobility problem has been eliminated to very certain extent
by the expansion of education awareness to all.
Business Administration Knowledge: Women must be educated and trained
continuously to acquire the skills and understanding in all the required functional areas of
business venture. This will make women to excel in decision making and develop good
business skills.
Financial Assistance: Most of the women especially in rural areas are not aware
about the financial assistance provided by various institutions. The efforts taken for
Women entrepreneurs may not able to reach the entrepreneurs in rural and backward
areas.
Training Programs: Depending upon the needs, duration, skill and the purpose of
entrepreneur there are various workshops and training programs available the social
&welfare association. Such kinds of programs are really helpful to new and young
entrepreneurs who desire to start a small and medium sized business on their own.
Cost: Some business has highly production and operation cost that adversely affects
the expansion of women entrepreneurs. The installations of new machine during
expansion of the productive capacity and like similar factors discourage the women
entrepreneurs from entering into new areas
5. Future Prospects of women entrepreneurs
Throughout the world, it is observed that the ratio of Women entrepreneurs is increasing
tremendously. The emergence as well as development of Women entrepreneurs is quite
visible in India and their over- all contribution to Indian economy is also very significant.
Today the role of Women entrepreneurs in economic development is inevitable because
women are entering not only in selected fields but also in fields like Trade, Industry and
Engineering. The industrial structure and the enterprises are undergoing a radical change.
Information Technology has transformed the very technique of doing business
individually. Business ownership provides women with the independence they crave and
with the economic and social success they need. Nationally, business ownership has great
importance for future economic prosperity. Globally, women are enhancing, directing
and changing the face of how business is done today. Ultimately, female business owners
must be recognized for who they are, what they do, and how significantly they impact the
World’ Global Economy.
6. Scope of the study:
The scope of the study on the problems and prospects of women entrepreneurs with
special reference to encompass a comprehensive examination of various aspects related
to women entrepreneurship in the region. The study will focus on identifying and
analysing the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in, including but not limited to,
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Research paper© 2012 IJFANS. All Rights Reserved, Journal Volume 11,Iss 11, 2022

access to finance, market constraints, societal and cultural barriers, and work-life balance
issues. Additionally, the study will explore the prospects for growth and success for
women entrepreneurs in considering factors such as access to new markets, technological
advancements, and changing consumer preferences. It will also evaluate the effectiveness
of existing government policies and programs aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs
in the region. The scope of the study will further include case studies of successful
women entrepreneurs into understand their strategies for overcoming challenge and
achieving success. Recommendations will be provided based on the findings of the study
to enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem for women. The study will also discuss the
limitations of the research, such as sample size, data availability, and time constraints, to
provide a clear understanding of the scope and boundaries of the study.
7. Statement of the problem
Despite the increasing recognition of the importance of women entrepreneurship in
driving economic growth and promoting gender equality, women entrepreneurs face
numerous challenges that hinder their entrepreneurial endeavours. These challenges
include limited access to finance, lack of entrepreneurial skills and training, social and
cultural barriers, and difficulties in balancing work and family responsibilities.
Furthermore, while an offer a conducive environment for entrepreneurship, there is a lack
of comprehensive studies that specifically address the problems and prospects of women
entrepreneurs in the region. Therefore, there is a need for a systematic study to identify
and analyse the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, as well as to explore the
prospects for their growth and success. Such a study would not only contribute to the
existing literature on women entrepreneurship but also provide valuable insights for
policymakers, business support organizations, and women entrepreneurs themselves to
enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem for women.
8. Research Methodology
Sampling Design:
Women entrepreneurs who are the main source of primary data are collected from the
women entrepreneurs through a well-structured questionnaire. As the area of study is
limited in Kanniyakumari district of Tamilnadu and as the total population of women
population is numerable, the researcher has proposed the sampling techniques for the
selection of respondents. To identify the right respondents which are also very essential
for the collection of primary data the following process has been adopted methodically.
Finally 300 respondents were selected in Kanniykumari District who has engaged to start
an enterprises and running successfully. Tools of analysis: Personal interview is the
major tool of data collection.
9. Tools of analysis:
Personal interview is the major tool of data collection. Interview technique is to be made
at women entrepreneurs. The secondary data are also proposed to collect from various
departments.

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Garrett Ranking
Garrett ranking is used to bring out the accurate result
Present position = 100(Rij – 0.5)
Nj
Rij = rank given by the factor by individual
Rj = individual score
In this study this is used to find out the problems for women entrepreneurs.
One way analysis of variance
The one way analysis of variance has been applied when the criterion variable is in
interval scale and the group of samples are more than two. In order to find out the
significant difference among the different groups of samples of the criterion variable, the
F- statistics is calculated with the help of ANOVA
F statistics = variance between group / Variance with in group
The table value of F is computed by (n-1)/ (n-k+1) degree of freedom at the required
level of significance.
10. Analysis and Interpretation:
This study is aims the problems and prospects of women entrepreneurs in kanniyakumari
district. For this purpose the study conducted for 300 respondents of the women
entrepreneurs. An attempt has been made in this section to analyse the collected data with
reference to activities of the women entrepreneurs a detailed analysis are given below.
10.1 Problems and prospects of women entrepreneur
The problems for women entrepreneurs are analysing with the help of Henry Garrett’s
ranking technique 8 problems are given and the respondents are asked to rank them.
Table 1.1
Problems of women entrepreneur
Si .no Problems Response Rank
1 Local competition 62.6 I
2 Unfavourable market behaviour 62.2 II
3 Lack of negotiating skills 54.04 III
4 Transportation 53.68 IV
5 Credit sales 52.64 V
6 Exploitation of middle man 35.6 VI
7 Exploitation of marketing people 34 VII
8 distribution 29.18 VIII
Source: Primary data
By applying the Garrett ranking test, the researcher found that the main problem
for women entrepreneurs is local competition, scoring 62.6 points and ranking first. The
next significant issue is unfavourable market behaviour, scoring 62.2 points and ranking
second. The third-ranked problem is the lack of negotiating skills, scoring 54.04 points.
Transportation is the fourth-ranked problem, scoring 53.68 points, followed by credit

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Research paper© 2012 IJFANS. All Rights Reserved, Journal Volume 11,Iss 11, 2022

sales, which scores 52.64 points and ranks fifth. Distribution is ranked as the least
significant problem for women entrepreneurs.
Table 1.2
Prospects of women entrepreneur
Mean Score
SI. Prospects F- P-value
25-35 35-45 45-55 Above Total
No Statistic
55
s
1 Economic independence 4.083 4.095 4.060 4.070 4.900 .010 .999
2 Employees support 3.722 3.209 2.723 2.632 3.000 8.845* .000
3 Sourcing of finance 3.555 3.309 3.327 3.510 3.413 .564 .639
4 Government Assistance 3.305 2.895 2.927 2.938 2.963 1.745 .158
5 Availability of 2.255 2.666 2.427 2.530 2.543 .673 .569
infrastructural facilities
6 Market potential 3.305 3.304 2.745 2.571 2.980 5.976* .001
7 Social status 2.583 2.390 2.290 2.2857 2.360 .926 .428
8 Availability of income 3.250 2.942 2.818 2.673 2.890 1.583 .193
sources
9 Support from family 3.444 3.161 3.109 2.979 3.146 .981 .402
10 Gaining respect from 2.805 2.942 3.063 2.857 2.956 .746 .525
others for my skills and
talent
11 Seeking challenging 3.027 2.742 2.727 3.000 2.813 1.211 .306
business venture
12 Family members support 3.111 2.895 2.690 2.918 2.850 1.505 .213
13 Gaining control on my life 2.972 3.123 2.927 3.142 3.306 .675 .568
14 Get better life after 2.916 2.590 2.800 2.489 2.690 1.439 .231
entrepreneurship
15 Getting of electricity 3.500 3.142 3.063 3.102 3.150 2.087 .102
power
16 Self esteem 4.138 3.942 3.563 3.550 3.763 4.596* .034
17 Working environment 3.333 3.266 2.653 2.810 2.965 7.832* .000
Overall prospects 3.237 3.101 2.936 2.945 3.083
*Significant at 5 percent level

The survey data provides valuable insights into the prospects perceived by women
entrepreneurs across different age groups. The mean scores indicate the level of
importance attributed to each prospect, while the F-statistics and p-values help assess the
significance of differences between age groups. Economic independence emerges as a
highly significant prospect across all age groups, indicating its universal importance to
women entrepreneurs. Employees' support, market potential, self-esteem, and working

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environment also show significant differences between age groups, highlighting varying
perceptions and needs. Interestingly, while sourcing finance is crucial for all
entrepreneurs, it doesn't show significant variation across age groups. This suggests a
consistent challenge faced by women entrepreneurs of all ages in accessing finance.
Government assistance, availability of infrastructural facilities, social status, availability
of income sources, support from family, gaining respect for skills and talent, seeking
challenging business ventures, family members' support, gaining control of life, and
aspirations for a better life after entrepreneurship, shows no significant variation across
age groups.
Suggestion:
Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that policymakers develop
targeted policies and programs to address the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.
This could include providing easier access to finance through dedicated schemes and
financial institutions, offering specialized training and mentorship programs to enhance
entrepreneurial skills, and creating awareness campaigns to challenge societal stereotypes
and promote women's participation in entrepreneurship. Additionally, efforts should be
made to improve the work-life balance for women entrepreneurs by providing support
services such as childcare facilities and flexible working arrangements

Conclusion:
The significant challenges faced by women in starting and running businesses. These
challenges include limited access to finance, lack of business skills and training, societal
expectations, and family responsibilities. However, despite these challenges, women
entrepreneurs demonstrate resilience, creativity, and a strong desire to succeed. To
improve the prospects of women entrepreneurs, it is essential to address these challenges
through targeted interventions. This includes increasing awareness about government
schemes and programs, providing access to affordable credit and financial literacy
programs, offering mentorship and networking opportunities, and creating a supportive
environment for women entrepreneurs. With the right support and opportunities, women
entrepreneurs have the potential to make significant contributions to the local economy
and society. It is imperative to recognize their efforts and provide them with the
necessary support to succeed.
References:
1. Nayyar, P.,(2007). Causes and Constraints Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in
Entrepreneurial Process. The Journal of Social Sciences, 42(4), pp. 99-102.
2. Madhurima, & Sahai Shikha, (2008). Women in Family Business, presented at
first Asian invitational conference on family business at Indian School of
Business, Hyderabad.
3. Abraham, J. (2016). *Women Entrepreneurship in India: A Study of Challenges
and Prospects*. International Journal of Management and Social Sciences
Research, 5(1), 1-8.

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4. Arunachalam, M., & Gayathri, V. (2019). *Problems and Prospects of Women

Entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu*. International Journal of Engineering and
Management Research, 9(3), 19-24.
5. Ganesan, S., & Ponnusamy, P. (2018). *Women Entrepreneurs in India: Problems
and Prospects*. International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics, 118(20),
253-265.
6. Krishnan, V. S. (2017). *Problems and Prospects of Women Entrepreneurs in
India*. International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics, 117(18), 213-221.

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