NOVEMBER 202219gathered in previous corporate jobs or through private interests or family history of engagement in the sector. Other factors include the desire to work in a unique field, to create a brand and work independently.2. Financial IncentivesStarting their own enterprise enables women to generate their own income. This enables women entrepreneurs to reduce financial dependency on their families, thus also hugely contributing to their empowerment.3. FlexibilityMany women value the flexibility that owning your own enterprise brings, as opposed to a corporate job with fixed hours. This flexibility makes it easier to combine their professional life with care work and home duties. However, building up your own enterprise quickly becomes a full-time job and means that women entrepreneurs have to re-negotiate their responsibilities and time spent at home and for the family. Women entrepreneurs face various constraints while starting their businesses. Are there any government initiatives that are bridging these gaps?There are numerous government initiatives both at national and state level to support women entrepreneurship. Popular schemes and initiatives at national level include the Udyam Sakhi launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium, which is a network for nurturing social entrepreneurship. Niti Aayog has established the Women Entrepreneurship Platform, which brings together and links women entrepreneurs to service providers and support opportunities. There are also various financial support schemes offered by the Government. While there are existing government policies, schemes and initiatives to support women entrepreneurs, they are often not well connected nor comprehensive enough to really catalyze women entrepreneurship. In addition, the majority of women entrepreneurs do not know about these support opportunities. A more concerted effort would be needed to inform women entrepreneurs of these schemes and initiatives and to handhold them to successfully apply for them. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is implementing the project `Economic Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs and Start-ups by Women' on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and in partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Niti Aayog has established the Women Entrepreneurship Platform, which brings together and links women entrepreneurs to service providers and support opportunities
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