Manish Kumar
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, June 28: “Times are changing. Now women are not confined to their homes and kitchens. They are evolving and coming forward in the society and leading at many fronts,” said Valena Valentina, a karate teacher, who is successfully running VV Karate Classes for the residents of the city. Though only four months into her business, she is confident of success. “Women have made their presence and potential felt in every field, be it politics, science, banking, journalism and even entrepreneurship,” she declared.
This in spite of India finding itself at a lowly 70th place in the 2015 Female Entrepreneurship Index, which considered 77 countries in terms of the ease with which women do business there.
In terms of our country, the available data point to a sorry state of affairs so far as the freedom with which women manage to begin their lives as an entrepreneur is concerned. Several women entrepreneurs of the state, however, have a different story to tell. There are challenges galore on the way to success, but attaining it is not impossible, some feel. Women of Orissa are now fighting against all odds and making their own paths.
Sanghmitra Jena, a woman entrepreneur of the state, who decided to make her career in the hospitality sector, actually finds it easier as a woman to do business. “I actually found that being a woman in the hospitality sector adds up to your prospects. People often trust women more in our sector. Moreover, lady members of the visiting group feel more comfortable working with a woman tour guide. I never, actually faced any kind of discrimination as a lady in my field, rather I found it useful,” says Jena, founder director of Eastern Treasure India Tours.
Jena often toils hard to organise special customised tours for the domestic and the foreign travellers, who are keen to get a taste of the cultural and the geographical diversity of Orissa. Many a times, because of her in-depth knowledge of the local tourist spots, she turns out be a guide, who narrates the history, significance and mythologies related to different tourist attractions of the city in a more convincing and catchy manner.
There are, however, some distracting voices among the women entrepreneurs of the state. Many women, with the entrepreneurship fire burning in their belly, still believe that the patriarchal society of ours finds it difficult to accept the aspirations of women. Sruti Mohapatra, a women entrepreneur working for the welfare of the differently abled and others through a trust, believes that despite the progress the society has made on many fronts, many men cannot stand the success of their women counterparts.
“Many women are now successfully making their presence felt at several fronts. However, due to the patriarchal society, mindsets of many men are still conservative. Many men, even now, cannot tolerate women at the top levels. Many even distrust them at that high a level and knowingly or unknowingly challenge their capabilities,” said Mohapatra, chief executive at Swabhiman.
Valena, the karate queen, however, has a different opinion. The scenario in the society is undergoing tremendous change. “Despite the several challenges that a woman entrepreneur faces in the state, she has been fulfilling her aspirations as well. I believe, in the days to come, women will enjoy more freedom,” Valena said.
Much like Valena there are other women, who have a positive attitude towards the cause of the women entrepreneurship. They think that it’s the right of the women to utilise their educational qualifications to establish a career of their own. Supreety Mishra, founder of North Orissa Farmers’s Multipurpose Corporative Limited said, “Parents, especially in the urban areas, spend a lot of money on their girl children. Girls in return, should claim their rightful status in the society on the basis of the education they have
received.”
Mishra, who got a degree from the Cardiff University before becoming an entrepreneur said, “Although, as a woman I faced some limitations such as venturing into the remote areas and hassels faced while travelling alone, especially at night, when managed effectively, yet these challenges could be easily overcome, if people let to live us our dreams.”
