Self-employment is widely viewed as an important engine of economic and employment growth. This study attempts to examine the entrepreneurial performance of units in terms of their size of investment, number of workers, level of production, etc. Results show that entrepreneurial performance variables are positively and significantly correlated in rural and urban units. An attempt has been made in this paper to highlight the problems faced by entrepreneurs and finding a way out of the problems through suitable government policies like liberalized credit policies, exemption in tax rates, setting up of an association, etc. The study emphasizes that there is a need to enhance awareness among entrepreneurs regarding utilization of services provided by supporting agencies.

Small-Scale Industries (SSI) play a very important role in the economic development of any nation, particularly developing and underdeveloped nations. These industries meet the twin needs, i.e., solution of unemployment problem and checking the economic concentration in the hands of a few. They encourage self-sufficiency, self-reliance and coordination. They provide beneficial reallocation of available resources and their proper utilization. They help to eradicate poverty in rural areas. These industries entail equitable distribution of national income and ensure a harmoniously balanced, integrated and egalitarian socioeconomic order in the country.

The Ministry of SSI, Government of India, defines a small-scale industrial undertaking as an industrial undertaking in which the investment in fixed assets in plant and machinery, whether held on ownership terms on lease or on hire purchase, does not exceed Rs. 10 mn. This limit has been raised to Rs. 20 mn recently. Today SSI sector accounts for 20 million jobs, 6.29% of GDP, 34% of exports and 995 of all industrial units in the country. About 2.8 million jobs have been added in the past year alone, sustaining employment growth rate at 4%. The average growth rate of the sector stands at 7%, which is higher than the industry despite the downturn in global economy and perceptible slowdown in the domestic market (Ali and Tripathi, 2009).

Entrepreneurship Development Journal, Small-Scale Industries, SSI, Economic Development, Self-Employed Artisan Entrepreneurs, Credit Policies, Global Economy, Domestic Market, Village Handloom Industries, Electronic Control Systems, Natural Resources, Statistical Techniques, Urban Entrepreneurs, Government Agencies.