EMERGING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA: A REASON FOR HOPE

Indian startup scenario is gradually increasing its gender ratio as more Indian women foray into the business scene. Indian business women already in the field are proving resolute in facing the competition and challenges that comes with management, scaling up and running of small and large enterprises. The steady increase in the number of women-led startups can be mainly attributed to the enabling policies and initiatives brought out by the Indian Government as well as the enterprising spirit of the Indian women. Even as the share of Indian women with innovative startup plans and business ideas increase year on year, most of them find it hard to find the required funding, technical support and mentoring needed to start a business and successfully survive the competition. The inherent gender bias and the conservative social mindset are also proving to be major obstacles for the enterprising Indian women. Proactive action by the Indian business community is the need of the hour, so that India can reap the full socio-economic benefits of a well-diversified startup ecosystem.