Role of NGOs in Skill Development and Promotion of Micro-Entrepreneurship among Women:A Study of Allahabad District

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is a catalytic agent for promoting economic independence among women. Skill development forms an important prerequisite towards entrepreneurship development. This case-based study makes an attempt to identify the role played by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in promoting micro-entrepreneurship among women through skill development. It identifies the type and the nature of skills imparted by NGOs to women and the types of economically viable activities started by these women after skill development. The paper also aims at identifying the role played by the NGOs in sustainability of these businesses. It is an exploratory, qualitative research, where multiplecase study method was used. The primary data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews of four prominent NGOs in Allahabad district that are actively involved in imparting skill development training to women. The study reveals that these NGOs are involved in skill development of women mostly belonging to rural areas that extended even beyond Uttar Pradesh. The skills imparted were related to agro-based activities and handicrafts. Many of these trainees took up microentrepreneurship as individuals or as groups. These NGOs not only provide training for skill development, they are also instrumental in ensuring sustainability of ventures started by these women by the way of providing consultancy on various essential aspects of running business, guiding them in receiving financial assistance, and assisting them in marketing of products. Thus, the main emphasis of NGOs is to make women economically independent through micro-entrepreneurship which is promoted by means of skill development and ensuring sustainability of their enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Copyright of Management Dynamics is the property of Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)