Women entrepreneurship - issues and remedies study on Muslim women in Ampara district

Abstract

The Role of women in economic development is critically examined and emphercised by scholars in the recent past. The concept of gender development, gender balance and gender empowerment are put forwarded by international organization such as UNO in the development agenda of the nations. Human development report gives more attention on gender development. The ideology of empowering the women politically economically has penetrated in the modem society. Health and sanitary services provided for female, extended educational opportunities for women brought a new horizon in gender development. Gender empowerment policy helped to open the door for women in employment and entrepreneurship. Women entrepreneurship is one of a way to use the capability of the female in the development and to increase the family income and employment. The major objective of the study is to find the status of and issues of Muslim Women entrepreneurship and the remedies to overcome the issues. The study carried out with the primary and secondary data from the area. The findings were obtained by analyzing the data qualitatively. It has been identified that the role of females in the business development is very poor in the region. There are no female headed industries and available some informal small industries and business activities at a base level. Cultural rigidity, social and family responsibilities, lack of capital facilities and fear to compete with male entrepreneurship are major reasons for poor involvement of females in business activities. Preparing business development activities within the socio cultural background, providing financial facilities specially interest free loans, creating marketing facilities for their production could help to develop the Women entrepreneurship among Muslim women in the region.