Research Proposal: Women Empowerment in Indian Small Scale Industries

This research proposal investigates the critical role of women's empowerment in the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in India. The proposal outlines the introduction, rationale, aims, and objectives of the research, emphasizing the importance of women entrepreneurs in driving economic growth. A literature review explores existing research on women's empowerment and the SME environment in India, highlighting the benefits of female entrepreneurship. The methodology section details the research philosophy, design, approach, data collection methods, and ethical considerations. The research aims to analyze the contribution of women to India's economy through SMEs, identifying best practices and addressing challenges faced by female entrepreneurs. The conceptual framework provides a model for understanding women's empowerment in different areas, including economic decision-making, household decision-making, and physical mobility. The proposal concludes with a timeline, sampling method, and sample size, providing a comprehensive plan for the research project. The research aims to enhance the understanding of women's role in SMEs and contribute to the development of effective strategies for women's empowerment in the Indian context.

Research Proposal

Table of Contents
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................2
Introduction for the proposed research.......................................................................................2
Rationale for the proposed research............................................................................................2
Research aim...............................................................................................................................3
Research objectives ....................................................................................................................3
Research questions: ....................................................................................................................3
Conceptual framework................................................................................................................4
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................6
Understanding about Women empowerment. ............................................................................6
Role of Small Scale Industries in Women empowerment in India. ...........................................6
The SMEs industry environment in India in respect of Women. ...............................................6
Knowledge about the best practices for female owned SME's in India ....................................7
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................8
Research philosophy- .................................................................................................................8
Research design: .........................................................................................................................8
Research Approach ....................................................................................................................8
Data Collection: .........................................................................................................................9
Ethical considerations:................................................................................................................9
Research reliability and validity: ...............................................................................................9
Timeline: ..................................................................................................................................10
...................................................................................................................................................12
Sampling method: ....................................................................................................................12
........................................................................................................................................................14
........................................................................................................................................................15
Sample size: .............................................................................................................................15
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................16
.......................................................................................................................................................17

Executive Summary
Small scale industries play an effective and vital role in the growth and development of
the country. SMEs has different opportunities which will help in development of India's
economy. It will help in providing different variety of product, giving largest employment
opportunities, presenting export performance and many other opportunities such as machinery
procurement, raw material procurement, technical and managerial skills, export promotion etc.
Along with this, Women empowerment can be known as providing power to female employee to
decide for their own lives. Main purpose of doing this research is to analyse contribution of
women in development of India's economy within small scale industries. Literature review have
been done with the opinion of different writers or authors on specific topic. Along with this,
researcher methodology also completed by collecting accurate and reliable data about the study.
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Title: “Women empowerment in India in small scale industries”
INTRODUCTION
Introduction for the proposed research
Small scale industries not only play a critical role towards development of Indian
economy but also have big part in the development of women entrepreneurs in India. SMEs
giving a huge number of employment opportunities or chances towards male as well as women
workers. There are a large number of female workers engaged in Small scale sectors performing
various kind of jobs at different level (Abdullah and Quayes, 2016). Small scale industries
support a women employees to determine their ability and potentials to do a specific job role in
the enterprise.
Along with this, Women employees have an essential in developing countries. In small
scale industry, women employees have different role in creating something innovative and
undertaking hurdles and risks of organises productions and economics uncertainty. Today,
women entrepreneur have been an important factor in the changes of social-economic, as they
are the one who forecast new possibilities, innovative techniques and unique line of production
as well as also co-ordinates different other activities (Abdullah, Ismail and Nachum, 2016).
Female entrepreneur are the one who are involved in the productive activities, small business,
manufacturing industries for example: manufacturing of detergent powders, handicrafts, cotton
ropes, food processing, doll making etc. Female worker in small scale industry provide an ideal
entrepreneurial possibility to utilise their capability and skills profitable.
Apart from this, Women employees are the increasing trend in the specific country. There
are some issues for women entrepreneurs such as financial process, discrimination, poor
opportunities and gender based problems (Afshar, 2016). All these issues were negatively impact
on women growth and success in small scale industry. In order to overcome such issues on
women, some rights have been provided by Small scale industries such as compensation,
rewards, benefits during the pregnancy situation etc.
Rationale for the proposed research
Main rationale behind conducting this research is to analysis importance of women
entrepreneur in growth and development of India. For this, small scale industries play effective
role by providing large empowerment to women as compare to male employees. Thus, it is a
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biggest topic which will help a researcher by enhancing its literature review skills, data
collection and analysis skills. All these kind of skills will help a researcher to do each activities
of study in appropriate and systematic manner (Alhassan, Hoedoafia and Braimah, 2016). Along
with this, women empowerment is most essential and effective part in development of India's
economy. With the help of this research, an investigator can easily identify role of women
entrepreneur in development of economy and growth of small scale industries.
Research aim
Main aim of this research is “To analyse the role of women empowerment towards
SEMs development in India.
Research objectives
Research objective is main part of proposal because entire activities of research is depend
on them. This section of research is divided into two variables which is dependent and
independent (Bos and Millone, 2015). According to the topic, SEMs development in India is
dependent variable which is depend on contribution of women entrepreneur. There are some
essential and useful objectives related with the research aim are determined as under:
 To develop basic understanding about Women empowerment.
 To analysis Role of Small Scale Industries in Women empowerment in India.
 To analyse the SMEs industry environment in India in respect of Women.
 To ascertain the knowledge about the best practices for female owned SME's
Research questions:
Research question is also consider important and useful part for research which is mainly
based on research objectives (Burns, 2016). There are some research questions which are
determined as under:
 What is the basic phenomena about Women empowerment?
 What are the Role of Small Scale Industries in Women empowerment in India?
 How SMEs industry environment in India for women can be made better? What the knowledge about the best practices for female owned SME's ?
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Conceptual framework
This framework introduces as an effective model which will help an investigator by
providing accurate detail about the women empowerment in small scale industry and in India
(Coles, Gray and Momsen, 2015). Along with this, such framework also support an investigator
to analysis detail information about the research and women empowerment.
Illustration 1: Conceptual framework for Women Empowerment
(Source: Conceptual framework for Women Empowerment, 2019)
From the above given graph, it has been concluded women empowerment in different
areas. These area mainly related with economic decision making, household decision making and
physical mobility. Women empowerment introduces as an expansion in its ability to make
strategic life choices in a specific context where this capability was previously denied to them.
Economic decision making: It is a part of conceptual framework for women
empowerment in which they have capability to share as well as control over the decision about
domestic financial affairs (Dutt, Grabe and Castro, 2016). This decision making related with the
buying and selling of household expenditure such as property, expenditures on clothes etc.
Household decision making: It is also consider as a part of conceptual frameworks
which is mainly related with women empowerment. For this women entrepreneur have capability
to participate in formulating as well as executing decision on domestic affair. This decision
mainly related with child welfare, health care seeking including, education, pregnancy planning
of children.
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Physical Mobility: It is another essential and effective aspect of conceptual framework
for women empowerment. In this women has freedom and right to travel necessary place
without being escorted.
Therefore, above mentioned framework help a women employees to make effective
decision in personal as well as professional manner (Gautam and et. al., 2018). As it will help
them by improving its growth and development in small scale industries.
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LITERATURE REVIEW
It introduces as a type of scholarly paper used by researcher to identifying gaps and
conflict in previous study. In this section, each objectives and questions of research will be
addressed in more effective manner (Green and et. al., 2015). Literature review refers as a in-
depth as well as critical evaluation of previous study. It is a detailed information and synopsis of
a specific field of investigation. Likewise, it is not a accumulation of paraphrasing and quotes
from other sources. It is critically evaluate the findings and quality of the investigation. It is a
systematic method used by researcher to identify and evaluate accurate data or information
regarding the topic.
Understanding about Women empowerment.
According to the Saeed Naif Turki Al Rashid, 2017, Women empowerment introduces as
a process in which female entrepreneur recreate and elaborate what it is that they can be and
accomplish in a specific situation that they previously were denied.
As per the views of Rosalba, 2019 Women Empowered is proven and evidence based
social and economic empowerment platform that enables women to save money, develop
financial literacy and invest in income generating activities. As in today's context women
empowerment are increasing towards all sector. Such as mainly focusing on learning skills and
building capabilities that are increasing to access information and resources which are promoting
towards collective action and community. Moreover, with the combination of economic and
social empowerment position that are basically leaders of society who are working towards the
contribution of households and communities.
There are many countries and state who are developing “WE”, it is a women's
empowerment program through many women are providing training in order to self organised
themselves. In this manner a women can develop their individual empowerment that increase
their access towards financial condition which is critically sustained towards poverty alleviation.
Apart from this there are many reason why women empowerment is necessary in today's
scenario.
Reproductive health: Women are valuable towards both physiological and social reason
which are more value bale in reproductive health problem that consist of maternal mortality and
morbidity.
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Stewardship of natural resources: Women are in developing nations that usually in
charge of securing water, food and overseeing family issues their health and diet. In such case
they are tend to put into immediate practice whatever they learn about their nutrition and
preserving environment and natural resources.
Economic empowerment: In toady's scenario it has been examined that more women
than men live in poverty. There are many economic disparities persist partly because of much
unpaid works within families and communities that falls under the shoulders of women as they
face discrimination in their economic surroundings. Hence there is need to women empowerment
within society.
Education empowerment: It is necessary to educate woman that is highly needed as well
as associated with both lower infant mortality and lower infant fertility. With higher level
education women are increasing their economic opportunity for their family and children.
Political empowerment: Both social and legal institution are steel not focusing more
women empowerment. As they do not give equality in basic legal and women rights that are
accessing control of land or other resources in employment, earnings, social and political
participants. Moreover, law against domestic violence are often enforced on behalf of women.
Thus, the above mention are some of the reason what are need and why it is importance
for an society to have women empowerment within a society and environment. Moreover, it is
necessary to look wards the improvement of women empowerment in order to analyses gab so
that it can integrated their life skills curriculum such as personal advancement and career
enhancement. In this women empowerment can be expanded with help of social support and
skilled based training that women can learn in “WE” program so that they can grow in their path
to personal empowerment.
Role of Small Scale Industries in Women empowerment in India.
According to the Kalokhe and et. al., (2017), Small Scale industries giving a employment
opportunities or chances to male as well as women entrepreneur. In India, female entrepreneur
are always a assailable part of society in which education assist them to explore their skills and
knowledge. Still, SMEs are giving employment to entire type of female entrepreneur. The
emphasis of Small scale are very clear, it tries to give employment to less qualified as well as
highly qualified female in India for the motive of their entire development and growth.
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Women empowerment is growing evidence in all over small and medium enterprise that play's
a significant role in national economic development of a country. It is providing various
opportunities to women to grab out job and produce much more creativity and innovation that
fuels economic progress. They SMEs are really focusing on schemes and programs which
generally focus on capacity building in states and region, nevertheless such schemes are
individual and beneficiary oriented.
In recent years women empowerment has been recognised as an central issues in
determining status of women. As empowerment covers up with many aspects such as women
control over material and intellectual resources. Women empowerment is the process in which
women get greater share of control over human and intellectual knowledge, information and
ideas with significant resources like money. Moreover, empowerment is involved with economic
opportunity , property rights, political representation, social equality and so on.
In context to Indian society normally women position are structure within duties towards
their families that are precede rights towards individual. Therefore it is necessary to define
empowerment as a process rather than an end points. Women empowerment should be among
individual in order to have greater equality and quality of life and as well as have ability to plan
their lives in order to have greater control over circumstances. In this manner they can influence
their lives and free from their shackles that are being imposed on their custom beliefs and
practices. Empowerment within women may also describe equal status, opportunity and freedom
in order to develop them their own rights. It is necessary to empower women both in socially and
economically through which they can increase awayness of their rights and duties as well as
access out with suitable resources that is a decisive step towards greater security of them.
Moreover, there is an unrealistic way in which women are depicted in literacy works and films
of women in epics and scriptures contributed much more on poor self image, suffering nature as
well as lack of assertiveness towards part of women.
In modern era women empowerment are developing in an Indian economy with rapid
expansion of trade as well as with small scale industry that has been emerging as a vibrant and
dynamic segment in the process of industrialisation. In India small scale industry are defining
with high scale of investment towards women empowerment along with certain specified items
by the government of India. Moreover, women empowerment are playing a significant role
towards poverty generation and employment generation, rural development as well as creating
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out regional balance in promotion and growth of various developing activities. In this manner
government of India are clearly showing the importance of small scale industry in the economic
development of the country. Thus, it has been playing an important role in growth and
development process of an Indian economy along with stiff competition at large sector with the
encouraging support from government. Government of India has also defined women
entrepreneur as an enterprise which are highly owned and controlled by women by having
minimum financial interest. They are engaged in business due to push and pull factor which is
encouraging women to have an independent occupation and stand on their own legs as well as
earn their livelihood.
The SMEs industry environment in India in respect of Women.
According to the Afshar, (2016), In India environment of SMEs in respect of women is
different from male entrepreneur. There are some protective provisions for safeguarding which
are determined as under: Maternity benefit: This act regulates the empowerment of female entrepreneur in few
establishments for some period of time before and after child-birth and gives maternity
advantages.
 Prohibition of Night work: In this Women entrepreneur shall be needed or allowed to
work in any kind of factory except between the time period of 6a.m. And 7p.m.
On the other hand Hopkins, (2017) Small and medium enterprises have their large
contribution behind the employment generation in India. There are large number of new start-ups
are opened after the government initiative as they able to get the loan at subsidised interest rate.
Nowadays, women employment in India is at peak due to many factors like high support of
government officials and the policies which they framed. There are huge number of supportive
policies persist in India in respect of the women employment and the same is needed to be
followed by the all organisations while they have their operations in the nation. Some of the
policies which exist in India in support of Women includes Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act,
2017, Women and Micro finance etc. All these kind of regulations and policies improve the
contribution of women in different industrial sectors. Also, the facility of micro finance
motivates the women to start their own business and become self dependent.
Now, the working environment in SME in India is quite positive and totally different
from the ancient time. Initially, the contribution of women in India is low. The reasons persist
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behind this includes low level of women education, discrimination of pay on the basis of the
gender etc. After the emergence of the new legislations and policies like Minimum wages act,
becomes the mandatory for all the organisation to provide the minimum wages to all the
employees irrespective of their gender, colour, cast etc. Also, many relaxations are provided in
SMEs to Women regarding timing, leaves, flexible working hours, positive working
environment, special facilities etc. These benefits allows the women to be more confident and
approach towards the different industries to pursue their career aspirations. Hike in the education
level in India is also becomes the positive reason behind the contribution of large number of
women in SME working.
Knowledge about the best practices for female owned SME's in India
According to the Team Safalta, 2018, IN India, there are different practices used by
SMEs for female entrepreneurs. Some are determined as under:
 Health, welfare, proper working hours, safety and many other advantages are included
under the factories act 1948.
 Maternity benefits act ensure provide maternity leave to employees workers.
 The leave duration will cover pre-delivery as well as post-delivery period also to support
female provide accurate attention and nutrition to the child.
According to Gudipati Rajendera Kumar, (2017), in India the rate of growth and
development of the country is increasing rapidly and this has impacted positively on the
economy of the country. A country cannot be treated as developing when it is moving towards
only one aspect but it is important for it come up in respect of all the aspects that contribute
towards the successful growth and development of the country. In case of India, the growth
aspect is about Women Employees. The development is clear as the women employees are also
provided a chance to show their talent in various fields and this has also proved to much extent
that women can also work and in some cases, more better than even men.
Women are employed on large basis in the organisations on the basis of their talent. Not only this
but they are also provided all the equal rights as provided to the male employees. In some cases,
the female employees are provided with more facilities than men such as in the case of
pregnancy, they are provided with extra leaves for which they are paid also. These kinds of
provisions are appreciated and implemented in the organisations in order to encourage the
women so that they could also participate and work to become an independent. In this case only
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