Title: Exploring the sustainable development goals through women's social entrepreneurship in the Northwestern region of India

Authors: Sandeep Kaur; Mohd Ibrahim; Mamoo Muchie; Jamie P. Halsall; Michael Snowden; Roopinder Oberoi; Mankirat Singh

Addresses: Department of Economic Studies, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India ' Department of Economic Studies, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India ' Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria West, Pretoria, South Africa ' School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, UK ' School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK ' University of Delhi, India ' Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, Punjab, India

Abstract: The present study explores the pathways to attain sustainable development goals (SDGs) by taking insights from the North-Western regions of India. Through the survey of social entrepreneurs connected with their traditional culture and food items to generate employment opportunities, the study identified that social entrepreneurship plays a significant role in alleviating women's poverty, improving women's bank literacy, and contributing to financial inclusion. Thus, social entrepreneurship addresses the sustainable development goals in the North-Western region of India. The study suggested that entrepreneurial training institutes must collaborate with higher educational institutes to attain the prime objective of India's new education policy, i.e., skill development.

Keywords: social entrepreneurship; poverty; employment generation; financial inclusion; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2026.153136

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2026 Vol.58 No.1, pp.30 - 44

Received: 22 Oct 2023
Accepted: 22 Jul 2024
Published online: 23 Apr 2026 *

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