SHILLONG, May 27: Meghalaya’s 45% Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are owned by women — a figure well above the national average of 40%.
This statistic, obtained from Lok Sabha data, places Meghalaya in an elite group of Indian states where women-led enterprises are not merely symbolic but substantial, signaling both cultural progression and economic empowerment.
While states like Gujarat (28%) and Maharashtra (35%) — widely seen as economic powerhouses — trail behind, Meghalaya’s figures reflect not only an entrepreneurial spirit but also grassroots support systems that enable women to lead businesses in sectors like handicrafts, agri-based industries, eco-tourism, and local food processing.
Many attribute this phenomenon to Meghalaya’s matrilineal societal structure, particularly among the Khasi and Garo communities, where lineage and inheritance pass through the female line.
Additionally, initiatives like the Meghalaya Startup Policy and Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project (MeghaLAMP) have played critical roles in funding and mentoring women entrepreneurs across rural and semi-urban areas.
The Northeastern states have relatively fared better, while Tripura with 66% is highest in India and Mizoram clocks 60%. Nagaland and Manipur both stand at 53% while Assam is at 35% besides Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are at 43% and 46% respectively. With Tripura and Mizoram leading the pack and multiple states crossing the 50% mark, the Northeast presents a radically different gender landscape in MSMEs compared to many parts of mainland India.
