Published Paper Details:

Abstract Women entrepreneurship is steadily more acknowledged as a powerful driver of inclusive economic growth, yet minority women entrepreneurs in backward districts like Keonjhar, Odisha, continue to face structural barriers in accessing finance and digital resources. This empirical study investigates how access to finance and digital inclusion influence the enterprise performance of minority women entrepreneurs in Keonjhar district. The study is based on primary data collected through structured questionnaires and field interactions with minority women engaged in micro and small enterprises across selected blocks of the district. This research examines the relationship between formal credit access, participation in government financial schemes, digital literacy, use of UPI and mobile banking, and business performance indicators such as profitability, sales growth, market reach, and sustainability. The findings reveal that limited collateral security, procedural complexities in banking institutions, and low financial awareness restrict access to formal finance. However, digital inclusion--particularly the adoption of digital payment systems, social media marketing, and online banking--significantly enhances operational efficiency, financial transparency, and customer connectivity. Entrepreneurs who actively utilize digital platforms report higher income stability and business expansion. The study highlights that financial access and digital empowerment together act as catalysts for enterprise growth. It recommends targeted policy interventions, including simplified credit mechanisms, gender-sensitive financial products, and structured digital literacy programs to strengthen minority women-led enterprises. The research underscores the transformative potential of financial and digital inclusion in promoting sustainable entrepreneurship and socio-economic development in rural India.