Women form only 25 pc of India’s workforce against 49 pc globally

Leveraging India’s vast talent pool of women and not allowing it to be frittered away, especially at this point of time could be transformational for Indian economy, as per the CEO of the foundation.

Only a quarter of India’s workforce is female as against a global average of 49 per cent and the need of the hour is to unlock the untapped potential of women entrepreneurs, the Wadhwani Foundation, a not-for- profit organisation, said on the occasion of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day on Thursday.

It is clear that India’s growing entrepreneurial landscape has left behind women and these entrepreneurs should be provided with a support system comprising an integrated policy framework with equal focus on rural India, said the organisation engaged in development of entrepreneurial ecosystem in India and other emerging economies.

However, “With women comprising just 14 per cent of the total entreprenual base in India, this is India’s big chance to tap into the precious resource of women entrepreneurs so as to realise their true potential,” Wadhwani Foundation president and CEO Ajay Kela, said in a statement.

“Of the 63 million MSMEs in India, only six per cent are women-led, a criminal waste of talent. Growth driving, business-friendly skills such as relationship building, emotional intelligence, and multitasking are second nature to women,” the statement said.

Leveraging India’s vast talent pool of women and not allowing it to be frittered away, especially at a time when businesses are facing a severe talent crunch could be transformational for the Indian economic economy and job creation, it said.

The Wadhwani Foundation was set up by US-based entrepreneur Dr Romesh Wadhwani.