Social Entrepreneurship and Women Empowerment in India: A Pathway to Inclusive Growth
Keywords:
Economic development, Financial inclusion, Gender equality, Inclusive growth, MSMEs, Self-help groups (SHGs), Social entrepreneurship, Sustainable development, Women empowerment, Women entrepreneursAbstract
Social entrepreneurship has emerged as a significant driver of inclusive growth in India, with women playing a pivotal role in combining economic activities with social impact. This study examines the contributions of women-led social enterprises, utilizing secondary data from government reports, institutional publications, and global databases. The findings reveal a substantial rise in women’s participation in entrepreneurship, with women-owned enterprises reaching over 3.07 crore and contributing nearly 17% to India’s GDP. Women-led social enterprises significantly support employment generation, particularly within MSMEs, and promote financial inclusion, community development, and grassroots innovation. Initiatives such as self-help groups (SHGs) and government schemes have further strengthened their participation and market access. However, the study identifies persistent challenges, including a 35% credit gap, higher loan rejection rates, limited access to formal finance, and socio-cultural constraints, which restrict scalability and sustainability. The study concludes that while women social entrepreneurs are key contributors to economic and social transformation, strengthening financial inclusion, digital access, and institutional support is essential to enhance their long-term impact and achieve inclusive and sustainable development.
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