Constraints Faced by Women Entrepreneurs of Punjab

Entrepreneurship is the core of economic development. It is a multi-dimensional task and essentially a creative activity. Entrepreneurship is the backbone of the economy. A large number of women are entering into entrepreneurship in some form or the other. Therefore, this study was conducted in district Ropar of Punjab state. 20 women entrepreneurs (who have already started enterprises) each from rural and urban areas and 20 future entrepreneurs each from the rural and urban areas of the district have been selected randomly. The objective was to analyze various constraints faced by women from both the groups. All these women have received different vocational trainings from Krishi Vigyan Kendra from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ropar. The study revealed that the women of both the areas faced the constraints of similar in nature. The percentage was definitely different but the nature of the problems was more or less the same. The basic and foremost requirement of starting a venture was the raising of funds. This has been the biggest hindrance, especially for the rural women to start their venture. Similar was the case of possessing entrepreneurial skills where the urban women entrepreneurs were much more comfortable as compared to their rural counterpart. Illiteracy has been the main cause of the various constraints which the rural women faced.