Women Income Generation Projects in Rural
Date
2011-06-15
Authors
Shoba, Nomthandazo
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Abstract
In the search of solutions to socio-economic problems, there is global consensus on
the fact that, alleviating the plight of small medium macro enterprises (SMMEs) is a
condition sine qua non. Poverty, unemployment, and other societal ills which ensue
from such socio economic problems are very prevalent in developing countries. In
South Africa, efforts to resolve such ailments have produced disappointing results—
with poverty and unemployment growing by the day especially in the rural areas.
Women driven SMMEs in rural areas are unsustainable, ineffective and remain
subsistent in nature. The lack of basic social amenities (water, electricity, and proper
health care facilities), infrastructure, proper communication facilities, and prevalence
amongst others, of HIV/AIDS has greatly incapacitated the functionality and
industrialisation of SMMEs in South Africa. Government efforts to resolve some of
these socio-economic problems, has been through support for urban and rural
SMMEs. Notwithstanding this, such efforts have not been very successful due to lack
of sound policies which bears into mind that, problems of rural and urban SMMEs are
of different magnitude. The difficulty is further exacerbated by geographical and
technological factors, and the absence of published data on the severity of the
situation. This research hypothesises that, available policies are not factually backed
and equipped to respond to contemporary challenges, and that the equal status quo
treatment of urban and rural SMMEs and assumption that they are vibrant and
properly functional are amongst other presumptions which have ill-affected
government programs. With the example of Learning for All (LFA) Care Clubs, this
research interrogates factors that incapacitate the sustainability of SMMEs. In this
esteemed regard, the role of government policies towards the inefficacy of rural
SMMEs will be reviewed
Description
MM - P&DM
Keywords
Income generating projects, Rural women, Employment of women, Small businesses, Micro businesses