HOW COVID 19 IMPACT ON WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Women Entrepreneurs may be defined as a women or a group of women who takes initiate to organize
and run business concern.

According to, Government Of India “ A Women Entrepreneur is defined as an enterprise owned and
controlled by a women having a minimum financial interest of 51 percent of the employment generated
in the enterprise to women.”

The call of the present time is that women should be financially independent. But the problem with
financial independence of women is that, the availability of jobs is very less. Hence, some new methods
have to be sought out by women to gain financial independence. Entrepreneurship among women can
be eyed as a tool for employment and generation. Efforts have been made by various governmental and
non-governmental agencies all over the world to promote women entrepreneurs. the results are some
what encouraging. There is growth in the number of women opting for entrepreneurships as their career
option. There is also a perceptible shift in the nature of businesses being set up by women in india. The
myth that women are fit only for papad and pickle making is shattered completely. Women
Entrepreneurs are making a mark in the garment and service industries, and also in the computer,
chemicals and construction material industries. The development of women entrepreneurship in line
with the overall entrepreneurship development in the country .

Today, India has 13.5 to 15.7 million women owned enterprises. Largely single persons businesses, they
provide direct employment to an estimated 22 to 27 million people. Accelerating growth in India, the
number as well as the size of women owned enterprises, it can generate potentially transformational in
India, of 150 to 170 million jobs by 2030.

Covid-19 and the ensuring disruption has disproportionately impacted women. In the near term, women
are experiencing increased un-eployment and many responsibilities, as well as an exacerbation of social
injustices. At the same time, Covid-19 has presented some catalyzing changes, such as an acceptance of
remote working model acceleration in the use of digital channels on both demand and supply side. And
shift towards digital versus physical interactions. All of which have the potential to level the playing field
especially for women.

Impact Of Covid – 19 On Women Entrepreneurs

• The focus on SMEs with employees excludes many women entrepreneurs, who are more likely to
be solo entrepreneurs or self-employed without employees but often with sub-contractors.

• The focus on loan is challenging given to women entrepreneurs attitudes and experience of
debt.

• The focus on technological innovation excludes the majority of women-led business.

• Women need different forms of support and advice and more intensive one-on-one supports.

• With some adaptations, current programs, investments in the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy
 ( WSE ) and innovations across the ecosystem, it can be leveraged, replicated and scaled to
better meet the needs of women entrepreneurs.

• Gender and diversity analysis is applied not only to the data that is being collected and shared
on Covid-19, programs being developed, their uptake and impact, but how funding is being
allocated across newly announced supports.

• We want to ensure that the support resources are being allocated fairly across the women
entrepreneurship eco system.

• Women owned businesses experienced a massive decline in revenue businesses that are
preliminary reliant on offline production or delivery models and have experienced a far greater
decline in digital channels where they lend themselves.

• After an abrupt drop in march and April due to the lockdown, growth in businesses is one third
of pre covid 19 levels.

• Enterprises that experienced the fastest recovery were those that had already experimented
with or adopted digitalization in various parts of their business model.

• Despite near term shrinkage entrepreneurs are optimistic about the bounce back . 99% of
entrepreneurs believe they will be able to survive the crisis, of whom two third believe this
requires major changes to their business model and cost structure. 80% of entrepreneur expect
demand to bounce back to pre-lockdown levels by march 2021 and of these, half believe this
will happen by December 2020.

• Women have been quick to shift their business models for greater relevance. 54% of the women
interviewed have already changed their business model in response to covid-19 and another
24% plan to make a change by December. Only 6% suggest that, they will not be able to shift
their business model. Business model shifts have included new products or services, digital sales
and delivery channels, as well as reoriented supply chain and sale and marketing function.
Entrepreneurs also focused on retraining themselves and their staff by learning new skills to
adapt to this change.