“What I tell the women entrepreneurs is to take up a profession that will help them balance between work and home. Don't do anything which will compromise one for the other,” says Ms Rani Muralidharan, President, Women Entrepreneurs' Association of Tamil Nadu (WEAT).

Ms Muralidharan, who also wears the hat of Director, G.K. Sons Engineering Enterprises Pvt Ltd, a Tiruchi-based company engaged in precision-machining and sheet-metal fabrication, speaks with passion about women entrepreneurs and the role of a catalyst that WEAT is playing. Ms Muralidharan, 48, a chartered accountant and a mother of two, firmly believes that women make much better entrepreneurs than men, as they have a holistic view of issues. WEAT, she says, counsels women to consciously underplay their position as an entrepreneur in the family so that the domestic life is not affected. “…what we want is peace at the family level. There is no point in spoiling your family peace for becoming an entrepreneur,” she says.

Sitting in her cramped office at G.K. Sons, Ms Muralidharan spoke about women entrepreneurs and challenges they face, and the role played by WEAT.

Excerpts:

What does the Women Entrepreneurs' Association do?

The purpose of the association is to promote entrepreneurship. It is not an association of people who are already entrepreneurs. We feel that many women do not have any other option, as in if they want to become economically independent, they don't have the experience required to earn money. They also many times don't have the education. They generally would have been housewives. Things have changed. Opportunities are coming up and as their children grow up, women find that they have more time and that they would like to do something. They are groping in the dark not knowing what to do. We felt an association like this can be a good platform for them to gain knowledge on what they can do, the areas they can look at, get trained, and get support for funding and hand hold them till they stabilise.

We have anywhere between 700 and 1,000 members, mainly in and around Tiruchi. Every month, we have meetings where speakers from different areas talk to them about business opportunities, about managing a business, about funding opportunities.

What kinds of businesses are they into?

All kinds. We started with areas where women feel comfortable like food processing, garments… We are now foraying into areas not traditionally taken by women. One which I am very excited about, which may be small, is we have women who drive Maruti vans and drop and pick up children from school.

In Tiruchi, there are around 30 women who have become vendors to BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd). That is a big challenge we took upon ourselves, and we got them registered. They have still not stabilised because of various factors, not because they are women but because of other outside factors. They require some impetus, some push from BHEL, then they can do really well. They do not have any technical background, but we have given them training. They have undergone training for fabrication and welding. If they have worked for BHEL they can very easily work for other engineering companies.

Are challenges for women entrepreneurs different?

Yes, in two ways. One is the society accepting them. Even if they have the same capability as any other male entrepreneur, the industry will look at her [and say] “Oh, she is a woman.” That question mark is there. That acceptability is taking a little time. The other aspect is that from the entrepreneur itself, the confidence level. Women do not have outside exposure. Typically in our society you will not find women going out a lot. Even if it is going to the bank, it will be the husband who does that. Any financial matters are handled by the husband. Even purchases, in some families, they are handled by the husbands. I feel that that is the gap.

Women are more capable of being entrepreneurs because of their holistic thinking. They don't look at just how much money is coming, how much money is going. They are more systematic and they go into details much more than men. That helps them to have a control over the organisations in a much better fashion. Even if you look at purchases, they are particular that they are doing it at the least cost and best quality. They are very good. In managing manpower they are more compassionate than men. These make them much more sensitive to the needs of the employees. They are much more committed. If they take up some responsibility they want to see that they make a success of what they do. If they have given a commitment to the bank, they put a lot of effort to see that they repay back the instalments in time.

Do banks hesitate to finance women entrepreneurs? Is it easier for men to raise finance?

They don't have any issues trusting women with finance. The only issue for them is women do not have access to wealth. So collateral is an issue. Obviously funding is a problem.

How do women entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu compare with those in other States?

[In] Tamil Nadu, I feel, the women are much smarter and they are much more confident and they are much more aggressive. The self-help-group concept has really brought out the women and it has helped them to understand their potential. The ecosystem in Tamil Nadu is favourable.

There is lot of energy and enthusiasm. But society has to accept them. Men are still not prepared to share responsibility. We do a lot of counselling telling women that they should underplay their position in the family because our society is not ready yet to accept the position that the women is an entrepreneur and a successful one at that and [that she is] is the bread winner. Because what we want is peace at the family level.

There is no point in spoiling your family peace for becoming an entrepreneur and finally what do you achieve, the whole purpose is lost. To achieve that balance, you have to underplay your position and you have to see that every requirement of your family is taken care of. Till such time your children and spouse understand the effort you are putting and till they come forward to share the responsibility, you have to do everything. If you are ready for this only you should become an entrepreneur, we tell them. If there is no family to go back to, then there is no point in becoming an entrepreneur.

You are now in charge of administration at G.K. Sons. How difficult is it for you to balance your responsibilities at home and at work?

I have absolutely no problem because I have clearly balanced my work and house situation over a period of time. For me, it was fortunate that it happened gradually. Initially when I joined, I was looking after only finance and then I took over the responsibility of administration and finance, and today I have taken over the total running of the industries. Since it has happened gradually I was able to prepare myself. Only in the last two years I have taken full responsibility here. As far as the family is concerned, I have fulfilled all my responsibilities.

What I tell my women entrepreneurs is take up a profession which will help balance between work and home. Don't do anything which will compromise one for the other.

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