ABSTRACT
At the heart of economic development is entrepreneurism. Economic growth of a nation state rests on entrepreneurship. While the percentage of women entrepreneurs is dismissal in India, rural economy, in many cases, thrives on nano-women entrepreneurs. These women entrepreneurs use local resources; their business and operational processes are environment friendly, which in turn create spaces for local products, helping the local economy.
This chapter examines the concept of entrepreneurship, further zooming in to understand the nuances of a gender-based approach to entrepreneurship. The chapter explores the socio-economic factors that act as motivators for rural women to take up entrepreneurship. It also focuses on local businesses that women entrepreneurs engage in and understand the environmental dimensions.
Feminist research methodology has been adopted and oral narratives incorporated to understand better the region and specific factors that contribute to entrepreneurship as well as preserving the environment. The chapter concludes by identifying policy support required to foster commercial as well as socio-cultural environment to enhance rural entrepreneurship of women.
