Conversation as a Tool to Explore the Struggle of Slum Women from Daily Labourers to Entrepreneurs

Abstract

Proliferation of education has led to transformations of life and economy at different level. But, in India neither the education nor the other associated values and achievements have brought significant changes in the life of many women except a few whom we see today in the age of media and communication as a source of inspiration. They are holding prominent positions in different domains of life, Nevertheless, though the education has become so common but opportunities and environment to get education are still not accessible to a large number of women in our society. It is on their capabilities and caliber that this paper intends to shed some light. The present study deals with the women from urban slums of Aligarh who are self- employed workers in the unorganized sector with irregular nature of employment accompanied by inadequate incomes. These women use their inbuilt talents to deal with the raw- materials and inbuilt skills to stitch, weave, embroider, knit and create. In the process of providing self-employment to their own selves they form backbone to the informal sector of the economy. The study tries to identify the various challenges they face. Study through qualitative findings tries to capture the ways and means by which they can expand their works and convert it into micro and small enterprise.