Sharma, ShaliniParminder Singh2021-08-202021-08-202021Parminder Singh (2021). Study on women engaged in micro-enterprises in sub-mountainous region of Punjab (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810173044Micro- enterprises creates rapid employment opportunities with relatively low capital investment, builds up more equitable circulation of national income, makes effective mobilization of untapped capital and human skills. So, the present study was an attempt to address the impact of micro-enterprises on the women engaged in micro enterprises with specific objectives- to ascertain the socio-economic status of women, to analyze the impact of micro-enterprises on women‟s well being and agency aspect and to assess the challenges faced by women and suggest possible remedies. The study was conducted in randomly selected two districts viz. Hoshiarpur and Roopnagar of sub mountainous region of Punjab. From each selected district five enterprises were selected viz. two registered and three unregistered. From each selected enterprise twelve respondents were selected to make sample of 120 respondents. The study found that majority of the respondents (42.50 %) fall in the age group of 31-40 years, earned less than five thousand rupees per month (78.33%), married (71.67%), practiced Sikh religion (50.83%) and belonged to Scheduled Castes (43.33%). Women engaged in registered enterprises (29.17%) had higher Socio-economic Status compared to their counterpart in un-registered enterprises (9.72%). Microenterprises impacted personal, familial, social and economic factors of women engaged in registered enterprises (25.00%) and in un-registered (6.94%) one. Lack of experience in financial matters, lack of appreciation and high cost of production (each ranked I) were the personal, socio-familial and production related problems respectively in registered enterprises, and loaning procedure of financial institutes and intensive market competition (each ranked I) were socio-familial and market related problems for those in un-registered enterprises. Study suggested proactive role of extension personnels and NGOs in apprising women entrepreneurs with latest, motivating and training them to improve economic viability of their enterprises.EnglishThesis