Journal of Commerce and Management Thought

Women constitute about 50 per cent of the total population of the world and directly as well as indirectly contribute to the economic parameters of the nation. However, even today, they are not given the equal status as of men. Women comprise of the two-third per cent of the total illiterate population (796 million) of the world. Similarly, in India, the literacy rate of women in the year 2011 was 65.46 per cent in comparison to 82.14 per cent of men. The employment rate of men is more than twice of that of the women in 2011. Therefore, there is a need to uplift the female/women for the overall growth of any nation and women empowerment is fundamental to reduce poverty, hunger and unemployment. Gender equality and women's empowerment are important factors for the social and economic development of a nation. Hence, Government of India (GoI) has taken numerous measures. This paper primarily analyses the impact of few schemes/policies issued by the GoI to provide assistance to women in order to start their own venture. It has been found that these schemes are still in their initial stages and have not achieved the targets. Therefore, some measures have been suggested to augment the benefits of the schemes.