ROLE OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

In a developing country like India micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have a crucial role to play. MSMEs are considered very important because they contribute to employment creation, improvement of income distribution, poverty reduction, export growth of manufactured products, and development of rural economy. MSMEs are also considered as an important place for women, especially in rural areas, to be actively involved in economic activities, not only as hired workers but, more importantly as entrepreneurs. MSMEs are great platform for development of women’s ability to become entrepreneurs. As obvious, external problems are those, which result from factors beyond the control of the entrepreneurs, the availability of power and other infrastructure facilities required for the smooth running of MSMEs; while internal problems affecting the industries relate to organization, structure, production channel, distribution channel, technical know-how, training, industrial relations and adequacy of management etc. The paper focuses on the role of micro, small, medium enterprises in women empowerment