4 OCTOBER2022Editor NoteWomen-Led Businesses Render Great Impetus to the Indian Economy Women form nearly half of India's population. For years societal norms pulled women back from achieving financial independence but the tides today are gradually changing. From being a nation where women hardly even owned a bank account in their name to having reached a stage where women are actively partaking in the business landscape, India has come a long way. Today women-led businesses render great impetus to the Indian economy. According to government data India has close to 13.5­15.7 million women-owned businesses. These businesses play a crucial role in providing employment to 22­27 million people. If statistics are to be believed, women owned businesses fare well in today's highly competitive business landscape. A report by Boston Consulting Group, concluded that start-ups that were founded or co-founded by women created 10 percent more cumulative revenue over a five-year period. Women founded organizations are also more inclusive in nature and employ three times more women than men. Take a look at Kriti Chadha's story. An engineer turned entrepreneur she Co-Founder, Karatcart along with her Anubhav, her co-founder with an intention to enter the ecommerce space. She turned her passion for jewellery into a thriving business that give consumers something unique to enhance their personalities with. "We were the first manufacturers selling directly to the customer as we have our manufacturing units and are not just a re-seller like most online businesses", says Kriti. Her venture started from a single room with one Karigar in her mother's home back in 2013. Today Karatcarthas a 10,000 sq. ft Factory area with more than 100 employees. Kriti alsofocuses on women's growth and support. "Today I can proudly say that my company has 90 percent women employees in Karatcart".A similar story is that of Yazhini Devarajan, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Proteios Green. During the COVID-19 period, the whole world intended to work on vaccines and drugs for the remedy but her company sparked & emerged with infection-less nutritional resetting to improve people's quality of life.Yazhini commissioned Made in India's biggest first 60KL Fermenter for the FOS product. She has single-handedly handled the 40-acres plant operations for continuously 7-night shifts. "I was also tasked to upkeep the women employee ratio in the remote area, made the architecture of the welfare committee, and was actively involved to set the motivated women employee role", she reminisces. Women such as Kriti and Yazhini bring us immense hope. It is women such as them who will fulfill the estimation that over 30 million more women-owned businesses will provide 150­170 million jobs across India by 2030. Read on to know more about Kriti and Yazhini's successful entrepreneurial journey in the current edition of Women Entrepreneur India magazine.Do let us know your thoughts. Rachita SharmaManaging Editor
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