Micro Entrepreneurial activities among Tribal Women in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Micro enterprises account for most employment in developing countries and three quarters of the women make or supplement livelihood through these enterprises in both rural and urban areas. But it is not always a trouble-free for women to take-up these activities who has to overcome various socio cultural hurdles and limited available resources. The present study aims to find out the structural attributes of Koya tribal society contributed to take-up these activities. The study also evaluated the level of involvement of tribal women in enterprise management and constraining factors associated with entrepreneurial activities. The sample size of 210 Koya women entrepreneurs from 6 blocks of Rampachodavaram Revenue division of East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh were selected by using purposive Snowball technique. Mixed research methods (both quantitative and qualitative) were applied to collect and analyze the data. Quantitative methods like interview schedule and 10 point Enterprise Involvement index were used for collection of the socio economic traits, enterprise details, enterprise involvement and constraints faced by them. The qualitative methods i.e. focus group discussions, observations and in depth interviews were applied for analyzing the structural attributes of the Koya tribal society. The findings explored that to earn more through enterprises were main economic motive for tribal women entering into entrepreneurial activities at the bottom of the pyramid market limiting their activities to their small geographical areas. Government interventions and training also motivated the women to take up micro entrepreneurial activities. The study also describes the structural attribute of Koya society where women are treated as economic asset robustly influence them to endeavor into entrepreneurial activities without any socio cultural hurdles irrespective of agricultural background. The extent of involvement of women in enterprise management, projected through enterprise involvement index shows that the time spent by Koya women on entrepreneurial activities was reported to be highest and membership in community organizations was found to be the lowest score on 10 point dimensional scale. Stiff competition with non tribals, lack of access to credit, inadequate knowledge and awareness about marketing strategies and weak transport system were constraints mentioned by women in carrying out entrepreneurial activities.