Entreprenurial Ventures by Women in Self Help Groups in India - A Case on Value Creation Processes for Bamboo Handicrafts

Abstract

Economic activities carried out by rural women needs to be economically viable and profitable in order to ensure a better livelihood. This paper explores how rural women belonging to Self Help Groups add value to bamboo by converting them into attractive handicrafts, what are the costs involved and what are the earnings from this economic activity . The study describes the activities involved in making the value chain , the marketing avenues and the problems in marketing the finished products. The study has been based on a combination of observational research , direct interaction, interviews and field surveys and administration of a structured questionnaire to the women in SHGs engaged in bamboo handicraft. Problems of these rural women micro-entrepreneurs have also been highlighted and recommendations to instill efficiency in the system have been made.