Kerala women while establishing firm foothold in literacy and social status seem yet to identify their role in entrepreneurship. According to Employment Exchange data for 1997, 54 percent of job seekers were educated women.

Indian society consists of immensely varied political, social, ethnic, linguistic, religious and community groups, which, by and large, reside in villages, where poverty, misconceived religious notions, social customs, illiteracy, ignorance and superstitions prevail.

The tribal population groups from 7.95 percent of the total population of India. About 67.76 million persons have been enumerated in the country (excluding Jammu & Kashmir) as members of the Scheduled Tribes (1991 census).