Page 80 - DMGT310_ENTREPRENEURSHIP_AND_SMALL_BUSINESS_MANAGEMENT

Unit 6: Grassroots Entrepreneurs through Self-Help Groups

and effective decision making skill, ability to mobilize and marshal resource, strong Notes
determination and self-confidence, preparedness to take risks, accepting changes in right time,
access and alertness to latest scientific and technological information these are basic qualities in
women therefore they are actively running their own business with help of SHGs. They are
actively running business like, food processing and preservation, catering services and fast food
centers, interior decoration, DTP and Book binding, dairy, poultry, household appliances,
stationeries, packing and packaging, diagnostic lab and pathology clinics, communication centers
with telecom, fax, browsing and Xeroxing facilities, readymade garments, embroidering and
fashion designing, retail selling, art and painting works, hiring of warehouses and godowns,
floral decorations, jewellery, beauty parlors. Though women entrepreneurship is a recent
phenomenon in India which came into prominence in late 1970’s now we see that more and
more women are venturing as entrepreneurs in all kinds of business and economic activities
and service sector. Though at the initial stage women entrepreneurship developed only at urban
areas, lately it has extended its wings to rural areas.

6.1 Grassroot Entrepreneurs: Meaning and Definition

Grassroots entrepreneurs are civic activists who take the initiative to create campaigns or other
organizational ventures to tackle social problems – in our case, to expand liberty. The idea is
also known as social entrepreneurship. While profit-making is the legitimate social benefit of
business entrepreneurs, grassroots ventures have another purpose, such as passing school choice
legislation or organizing to oppose a tax increase. Grassroots entrepreneur can be defined as
follows:
“A person who pursue an innovative idea with the potential to solve a community problem.
These individuals are willing to take on the risk and effort to create positive changes in society
through their initiatives.”

Example: Kalamandir: This organization’s initiatives with the tribals in Jharkhand to
support, nurture, and disseminate a finer aesthetic sense among individuals, communities,
organizations, and social groups serves as a bridge between the producers and the consumers.
Just as entrepreneurs change the face of business, grassroots entrepreneurs act as the change
agents for society, seizing opportunities others miss and improving systems, inventing new
approaches and creating sustainable solutions to change society for the better. However, unlike
business entrepreneurs who are motivated by profits, grassroots entrepreneurs are motivated
to improve society. Despite this difference, grassroots entrepreneurs are just as innovative and
change oriented as their business counterparts, searching for new and better ways to solve the
problems that plague society.

Caselet Grassroot Entrepreneurship, Vanguard of Growth

he absence of grassroots entrepreneurship is the very reason why sustainable
economic growth has eluded Pakistan for so long. We continue to be bogged down
Tin addressing problems related to the survival of existing businesses and that is
why we never realize economic growth as achieved by many including the Asian Tiger
countries, India and China over the last two to three decades.
In the true economic model it is not the government’s responsibility to provide jobs; their
most important job is to act as facilitators and in helping and creating an environment
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