Title: Impact of microentrepreneurial activity: a case of Indian economy

Authors: Debasish Joddar

Addresses: Department of Economics, Vidyasagar Evening College, University of Calcutta, 39, Sankar Ghosh Lane, Kolkata 700006, India

Abstract: Development of sustainable microenterprises considered as ideal paradigm to uplift the rural masses by reducing their vulnerability calls for an in-depth evaluation of desired impacts of microenterprise development programmes. Based on the primary data in selected districts of West Bengal, the study attempts to assess the socio-economic impact of the microenterprises on their household with reference to the standard of living and seeks to demonstrate the status of the women and children with respect to the use of basic health and educational services. Compared to others, the superiority of the sustainable enterprises has been explored in terms of higher standard of living index as well as the better-off situation of the women of their family with respect of use of antenatal care and institutional delivery. On the contrary, the alarming drop-out rate of children in the family of unsustainable enterprises needs to be taken into consideration.

Keywords: microfinance; microenterprise; entrepreneurial activity; impact; sustainability; standard of living; educational services; drop-out; child labour; antenatal care; institutional delivery.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2021.119731

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2021 Vol.44 No.4, pp.413 - 434

Received: 26 Oct 2018
Accepted: 01 Apr 2019
Published online: 17 Dec 2021 *

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