An Action Research on the Impact of Entrepreneurial Training Programmes for Selected Women in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala

Abstract

Women entrepreneurship have substantial development role in the economy irrespective of the industrial and geographical diversities. An appropriate entrepreneurial training programme helps to develop sustainable entrepreneurship thereby contributing human and capital resources to the nation. Hence the study An Action Research on the Impact of Entrepreneurial Training Programmes for Selected Women in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala was undertaken with the ultimate aim of women entrepreneurship development with the objectives like understanding of the entrepreneurial training needs, implementation and assessment of the impact of entrepreneurial training programmes. The samples were selected using multistage sampling method. Sixty women aged above 18 years were selected randomly from four villages in Thiruvananthapuram and NeyyattinkaraTaluks making a total sample of 240 women respondents. From them, 130 trainees were subsampled through training needs assessment. Primary data have been collected through interview, observation, focus groups and discussions with the respondents, various officials, non- officials and other people s representatives. Trainees were grouped into four batches based on the enterprises they have chosen (Convenience food, Wealth out of waste, Eco- friendly products and Beauty products). Three days training was implemented for each batch. Brainstorming sessions, group discussions, hands on training, theoretical understandings, group activities and field visits were some of the highlights of the sessions. The impact of entrepreneurial training programmes has been assessed through the changes in Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) of the selected trainees before and after their involvement in the training programmes using paired sample t test. The mean score obtained by the trainees for knowledge, attitude and practice after training was higher than that of before training which showed statistical significance. It was encouraging and motivating to know that 24.62 percent of the trainee