CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT

Abstract

Rural enterprises play an important role in the development of Indian economy. It aims at raising the
standard of living of the people especially in rural areas. It plays a vital role in generation of local
employment, balanced resource utilization, income generation, improving the standard of living of the
people in rural areas. Thus, rural enterprises are growth engine that triggers development process.
Such enterprises are struggling with the day-to-day problems. The productivity of such enterprises is
affected by improper management. The entrepreneurs are weak in managing the units due to lack of
adequate managerial skills. In this context, the present study titled “Opportunities and Challenges of
rural entrepreneurship in Thoothukudi District” is to explore the opportunities and challenges for
rural entrepreneurship. The study is exploratory in nature and is based on questionnaire survey.
Rural entrepreneurs in Thoothukudi district constituted the population of the study. Sample was
selected from entrepreneurs in rural area of Thoothukudi district. It is found that support and
motivation to local people ranks first among opportunities of rural entrepreneurs with a mean score
of (61.25) which is followed by employment generation for rural youth(58.51)