Study on Entrepreneurial Competencies of Women Entrepreneurs in Jammu District of Jammu and Kashmir State

For all round development and empowerment of women and for reducing gender inequality, it is imperative to disseminate right kind of relevant information to the society in general and women in particular. Empowerment of women can become a reality only when they have the confidence and ability to engage in independent and income generating activities and enterprises. The country needs to mobilize and utilize fully, all its resources, including human resources. The participation of women in economic activities is necessary not only from a human resource point of view but is essential even for the objective of raising the status of women in the society. Although, women form almost half of the world's population and form an integral part of the society, yet, women world over have been suffering from various types of discrimination and deprivation from times immemorial, owing to socio-cultural ostracism and other ethos. During the last few decades, there has been a global concern to bring women into mainstream of economic activities so as to ensure their quality and empowerment. A study was conducted on entrepreneurial competencies of women entrepreneurs in Jammu district of Jammu and Kashmir State. The 240 Women Entrepreneurs were involved in the study. The findings lead to conclude that women entrepreneurs in the study area were having low level of entrepreneurial competencies/attributes. To materialize the dream of successful women entrepreneurship, it is essential to provide encouragement, appropriate awareness, training, environment and support to women entrepreneurs. So, it is very important that women entrepreneurs should possess all such characteristics, which help them in performing their function, successfully. This would definitely enhance their socio-economic status, a pre-requisite for women empowerment.