COVID – 19 AND ITS IMPACT ON MSMES IN KARNATAKA : A STUDY WITH VIJAYAPURA DISTRICT

Abstract

In modern era, entrepreneurship is one of the main pathways to achieve gender equality and women’s economic empowerment- as set out in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), which can in turn have a multiplier effect on family well-being, poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth. MSMEs are central - not only in promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all; MSMEs also promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation and can help reduce income inequalities if they receive support to provide good quality jobs. Finally, they can support achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment through female entrepreneurship. While the rates of infection and death as a result of this pandemic appear to be higher for men than women so far, it is envisaged that women and girls will bear a disproportionate burden of the primary, concurrent, secondary and tertiary impacts of the disease, in terms of economic, social and health risks.