New Delhi, Dec 18 (KNN) The enlarging structure of the small scale industry is being accompanied by a smaller fraction of females being employed in those very ventures. The misbalance and inappropriate ratio in employment in small sectors is rarely being given any notice. The reason behind this abrupt margin in women employment could be several in numbers.
 
While talking to some of the small and medium scale ventures , KNN came across some major causes  behind this phenomena, the first and foremost being the availability of these enterprises in tier-3 cities or rural areas.
 
Sunil Raithata, President, Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture said, “The problem lies in the lack of awareness among females as well as their families in these not-so-advanced areas.”
 
“Parents hold the belief that working would reduce the marriage prospects of their child. The organisations, historically, are male dominated- 90-95 per cent being controlled by men” he added.
 
Talking about his own company, Vinod Rai Engineers Pvt Ltd, he stressed that it was quite difficult hiring the first female employee for the venture. He also stated that the lack of get-going attitude among females is also a major reason for lack of female employment.
 
Women look for rather specific jobs which are relatively comfortable and limited in numbers. “We believe that 20-30 per cent of the workforce should comprise of women, but that is rarely seen in SME sector,” Raithata told us adding, “We have 11 female employees in our factory.”

The organisations are also to be blamed for their failure in provision of a comfortable and women-friendly atmosphere.

The president asserted on another parameter for the phenomena – lack of dignified public transport.
 
“Female employees do not feel comfortable travelling in public transports. The low cost transports are not safe and the workers in SME sector prefer using public transport for commuting,” the President said.
 
“Moreover, parents in such areas are reluctant to allow their daughters to drive alone because of safety issues,” he added further.

Raithata concluded by saying that the pavement for balancing the employment ratio is a two-way path, with organisation creating more female-friendly atmospheres and women making an effort to come out of their comfort zone. “The combination might lead to an improved women employment in small scale industries,” he said.
 
V K Dixit, President, KASSIA, agreed to the distinct gap between male and female employees in small industries. However, he is of the belief that there has been an upgrading in the condition to some extent.
 
“The gap was remarkable few years back but the recent ongoing expansion in female-aided facilities have reduced the burden on females. The household responsibilities have decreased to some extent. The major contributor is significant rise in female education in India,” he said.
 
“The day care centres and coaching centres have provided women with more spare time evading them from the responsibilities of children to some extent. We can see the growth in the head count of females entering manufacturing and industrial professions,” he added.
 
Dixit believes that the ongoing improvement and support for female employment will further reduce burden from the women off the household errands and more than 25 per cent increase in female employment can be expected in the SME sector in coming ten years. (KNN/ Jyoti)