Sudeshna Mitra^1,, Amit Kumar Hazra¹, Harpal S. Grewal²

This paper examines the importance of training need assessment (TNA) for family-based women entrepreneurs who can handle entrepreneurship independently within the periphery of their demography and socioeconomic status. The present study is done through a social survey on 100 female-operated family-based enterprises in two blocks of Birbhum District, West Bengal, Bolpur-Sriniketan and Illambazar. The data collected through the household survey method is analysed, then transcribed and confirmed and amended findings by reconciliation using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) method. It is found that female-operated enterprises in the area have low entrepreneurial success due to inadequate family support or encouragement and other factors like low education, low skill, low income, and caste barriers. Another need assessment survey was conducted on the same group to know their desires and demand to grow their businesses. It is recommended that women entrepreneurs should redefine their situation so that they see business to greater prosperity for themselves and their families. The families of women entrepreneurs should also support the women's initiatives by assisting at the household and business level to enable these women to exploit their full potential in business. The study provides knowledge that could be of great value to small and medium-level stakeholders in supporting women entrepreneurs to enhance their contribution to social and national development.

TNA, PRA, MSE, COVID-19, women entrepreneurship, sustainable rural livelihood