EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A STUDY IN GUWAHATI CITY OF ASSAM

The status of women in any society is the best way to understand its civilization. But Indian history demonstrates that women are the victims of all sorts of deprivation. In spite of the various welfare related activities for women, illiteracy and ignorance about their rights are still prevalent among majority of the women in India. So, in the last few decades the issue of empowerment of women has been acknowledged as an important tool of reducing their plight and improving their lives in the country. In the context of women empowerment, entrepreneurship plays an important role because entrepreneurship offers various opportunities for women by opening the doors to greater self-sufficiency and self-esteem not only for the women themselves, but also for their families. Over the years it is seen that the hidden entrepreneurial potentials of women have gradually developed among women in Assam. The progress is mostly seen among the women in urban areas. So, this study is an attempt to identify the motivational factors that influences the women entrepreneurs to start their own enterprises. Further, the study highlights the impact of socio-economic factors including enterprise related factors on empowerment of women entrepreneurs in the City. It is found that monthly income from enterprises plays an important role in achieving economic empowerment of women in the study area.