Laying a strong foundation to empower rural women entrepreneurs in the digital economy, Nasscom Foundation has collaborated with HSBC, India to train 4000 women entrepreneurs in the states of Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. The program “Upskilling Women Entrepreneurs and Enhancing their Participation in The Digital Economy”, will see participants receiving end to end interventions focused on intensive digital and financial literacy, entrepreneurship development, business and e-governance application through handholding support and on-boarding on several social media platforms.
Limited digital and financial literacy hinder rural women entrepreneurs’ ability to utilize digital tools and access e-commerce platforms to grow their business. Women owned rural enterprises give employment to 22-27 million people. However, women entrepreneurs face barriers in accessing formal credit, lack tailored policy support for mid-scale growth, and miss critical business development services like marketing, technology, and advisory. This initiative aims at empowering women economically, improving their livelihoods and enhance resilience by identifying, skilling and promoting technological solutions that drives women’s economic empowerment.
Jyoti Sharma, CEO, Nasscom Foundation said that “Gender disparity in economic participation remains deeply rooted and significantly high, posing a major challenge to achieving equity. This initiative reflects our commitment to bridging that divide. Technology has proven to be a powerful catalyst for fostering inclusion and creating equitable opportunities, and we are dedicated to advancing digital inclusion to enhance women’s livelihoods, economic security, and resilience. Through our collaboration with HSBC India, we aim to drive innovative, tech-enabled solutions that empower women across India, aligning with our shared vision of building a more equitable and inclusive future for all.”
Mamatha Madireddy, Head of HSBC Global Service Centres, India, “Inclusion at HSBC defines who we are and how we embrace it holistically. We strive to build an inclusive environment with our customers, people and the communities we operate in. I believe, growth comes with empowerment. And to scale operations, the use of technology will help the women step-up, enhance their entrepreneurship skills and go beyond boundaries. In partnership with Nasscom Foundation, Tech for Good amplifies the magnitude of the programme providing a platform in building an inclusive environment for the unreached women in communities”.
The project being implemented by Amar Kutir Society for Rural Development in West Bengal, Sewa Bharat in Delhi NCR, Head Held High Foundation in Karnataka and DHAN Foundation in Telengana and Tamil Nadu. The project is strategically structured in several phases to follow a comprehensive and impactful approach:
Phase 1: Mobilisation
Three districts in each target state—Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal—will be identified. Dedicated mobilizers will engage 350 women entrepreneurs per district, reaching a total of 5,000 participants.
Phase 2: Capacity Building
4000 participants will undergo training in digital, financial, entrepreneurial skills and government scheme, covering both basic and advanced levels. Modules on social commerce, entrepreneurship, financial management, business management and government schemes will prepare them for business growth. This will be followed by in-person handholding support to address queries and ensure digital readiness.
Phase 3: Business Enablement
The final phase will support 2,000 women entrepreneurs with business registration, digitized accounting, and access to finance (on demand basis), enabling them to scale their businesses and thrive in the digital economy.
This structured approach ensures holistic support for empowering women entrepreneurs and fostering sustainable growth.
Digital transformation is a continuous journey. Initiatives like this empower women entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in the digital economy. By overcoming technological barriers, these entrepreneurs can access new markets, expand their businesses, and generate employment opportunities within their communities.
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