Female entrepreneurship: Govt must focus on mkt linkages, access to finance

Specific schemes tailored to the needs of women entrepreneurs, including flexible loans, collateral-free options, integration with global markets, and mentorship networks can help

The number of female entrepreneurs has grown in India with proactive government support. But the growth has been patchy and slow and needs to be accelerated. In this regard, DBS Bank India and CRISIL recently released a report, the third one in its “Women and Finance” series, which contains useful insights regarding the experience of self-employed women entrepreneurs across 10 major Indian cities. Women-owned enterprises, which stand at a modest 20 per cent of all businesses, are expected to constitute a significant 33 per cent by 2030. It is anticipated that this growth will translate into a