A STUDY ON AWARENESS TOWARDS GOVERNMENT SCHEMES FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

Abstract

Women entrepreneurship has emerged as a significant driver of economic growth and social change in India, yet a large section of women running small enterprises remain outside the ambit of institutional financial support because they are unaware of, or unable to access, government schemes designed for them. This study examines the level of awareness among women entrepreneurs in Chennai city towards government schemes such as the Mudra Yojana, Stree Shakti Package, Annapurna Scheme, Udyogini Scheme, Orient Mahila Vikas Yojana and Mahila Udyam Nidhi Scheme. Using a structured questionnaire administered to 176 respondents through area and simple random sampling, the study applies percentage analysis, mean scores and chi-square tests to examine the demographic profile of respondents and its association with scheme awareness and usage. The findings indicate that while a majority of respondents (69.9%) are aware of government schemes, a considerable gap persists in actual utilisation, largely on account of poor service delivery, lack of information and cumbersome procedures. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing outreach, streamlining processes, and bolstering entrepreneurial education so that government initiatives more successfully transfer into women's economic empowerment.