Women Empowerment Through Micro-Enterprises – A Study Of Y.S.R District, A.P.

Abstract

Empowerment of women means equipping women to be economically independent, self-reliant, have a positive self-esteem to enable them to face any difficult situation and they should be able to participate in development activities and in the process of decision making. It has been globally recognized that women's empowerment can be well paying strategy for overall economic and social development. This has resulted insignificant changes in the approach to assist, women in a continuum ranging from welfare to development. Entrepreneurship development among women is one activity that promises encouraging results. The present study is an attempt tostudy the socioeconomic background of the women entrepreneurs and to assess the role of micro-enterprises in the empowerment of women in terms of economic, social and psychological spheres in Y.S.R District of A.P. For this a sample of 60 women micro enterprises were selected based on simple random sampling method from the sampling frame of 107 women microenterprises registered in the District Industries Centre (DIC), Y.S.R District.It is concluded that women have attained economic, social and psychological empowerment after starting the micro-enterprises, which a true reflection of empowerment of women. Finally,suggestions are given for the promotion of women micro-enterprises.