Author(s): Silky Vigg Kushwah and Teena Singh
This paper examines the empowerment of women entrepreneurs who have availed loans under the Stand-up India loan scheme for their businesses. It investigates whether there are any substantial improvement in the empowerment of these women entrepreneurs after the loan is available and business is started. A survey is conducted, and questionnaires are administered among Indian women entrepreneurs who have availed Standup India Loan in the three hilly states, namely Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim of India. The total sample size is 600 Indian woman entrepreneurs who have availed Standup India Loan Scheme for their business. So, after data cleaning, 539 questionnaires are valid and usable. The results highlight a significant difference in women's empowerment after the loan is availed, but still, women don't feel confident in making all the decisions. There is still a scope for them to be empowered in a holistic way, namely socially, politically and economically empowered to make their own decision. Studying the status of women entrepreneurs' empowerment after the loan is availed will help the government and other regulators understand whether such financial support schemes are helping Indian women become self-reliant and empowered.