Frontier Markets’ Post

In the contemporary digital age, access to information and technology stands as a pivotal factor for personal growth and seizing economic prospects. #ColgatePalmolive recognizes the paramount significance of digital and financial literacy in the empowerment of citizens, especially women residing in rural areas. Our unwavering conviction lies in the notion that by promoting digital literacy among rural women, we can foster their independence, elevate their confidence, and bolster their self-reliance. In collaboration with Seva Mandir, we embarked on a transformative journey in 2021, aimed at equipping rural women in Rajasthan with these indispensable skills. This initiative has served to narrow the digital divide, enabling these women to assume more active roles in the contemporary economy. It has empowered them to make well-informed decisions regarding their finances, explore entrepreneurial avenues, and expand their knowledge base. During the fiscal year 2022-2023, we have successfully nurtured 20,000 'Colgate Digital Sakhis', through our Digital & Financial Literacy program. Our aspiration is to extend this impact and reach 100,000 rural women across India by the year 2030. #PoweringABillionSmiles #DigitalLteracy #FinancialLiteracy #CSR #WomenEmpowerment #BuildingASmilingPlanet #SmilingForAGreenerFuture #SmileKaroAurShuruHoJao #ColgateSmile #ColgatePalmolive #ESG #CSR #OralCare #HealthierFuture

In rural India, digital access is blurring geographical boundaries. The digital revolution is recontextualizing the lives of women in rural India as they get exposed to ideas and viewpoints, distinct from their current circumstances. Ideologically, this serves as the inspiration to strive for empowerment via financial independence, expression and identity creation. One of the most profound ways in which the digital wave is transforming the lives of Indian women is through enhanced connectivity. Online courses, webinars, vocational skills and educational apps provide opportunities for continuous learning and skill development. Rural women are using digital access to reshape their lives, challenge their social contexts and commit to their personal growth and development regardless of limitations imposed upon them. #rural #ruralwomen #digital #digitisation #digitalindia #digitalrevolution #india #indianculture #research #consumerresearch #culturetrends #cultureresearch #freshfromthefield

Our goal is to ensure financial stability and digital literacy for every woman in Bharat, fostering economic independence and self-reliance. Together, we can create a powerful pathway for rural women to achieve their full potential. #ChaloBharat #WomenEmpowerment #DigitalNaari #LakhpatiDidi #RuralDevelopment #FinancialInclusion #PayNearby #EmpowerBharat

India lives in her villages, and rural development remains a top priority for the government. As our new Rural Development Minister, #ShivrajSinghChouhan ji emphasizes, the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme is a key initiative aimed at enabling women to earn ₹1 lakh annually. With the goal of increasing the number of ‘Lakhpati Didis’ from one crore to three crores, this scheme is central to the government’s mission of women empowerment. At PayNearby, our #DigitalNaari programme aligns perfectly with this mission. The objective is to establish a sustainable micro-entrepreneurial environment that elevates 1 million Digital Naaris into Lakhpati Didis within the next five years, while also empowering 100 million women in remote areas toward a digitally and financially inclusive future through these community influencers. Today, we have more than 1,50,000 Digital Naaris across Bharat who have benefitted from this program and have gained the financial and social confidence to transform their own lives and those of their families. We will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders in this space- national and state livelihood programs, NGOs, SHG groups—for capacity building and ground level transformation, to take the women of Bharat to the next level of growth and development. Read more on Economic Times: https://lnkd.in/djt6drvM #WomenEmpowerment #DigitalNaari #LakhpatiDidi #RuralDevelopment #FinancialInclusion #PayNearby #ShashaktNaariShashaktDesh #WomenLivelihood 

At HHH, we acknowledge the persistent digital divide that acts as a barrier to financial inclusion, education, access to information, and improved economic opportunities. This divide is often more pronounced when it comes to women. To confront this issue, we are thrilled to announce our collaboration with nasscom foundation to empower women artisans in the aspirational district of Raichur, Karnataka, by providing them with essential digital literacy skills. Our goal is to enable these women not only to navigate the digital landscape but also to actively participate in the digital economy. This transformative project entails introducing women artisans to various digital business applications, enabling transactions, utilizing digital marketing tools, listing their products on digital sales platforms, and establishing crucial connections with formal credit institutions. Through this initiative, we aspire to diminish the digital disparity that hinders the progress of women artisans. By embracing technology, we are not only enhancing their economic prospects but also fostering a more inclusive and empowered community.   #WomenEmpowerment #DigitalInclusion #SocialDevelopment #abundance #capability nasscom foundation Madan Padaki Pankaj Singh Thakur Devashis Dubey Sunil Savara Kumar Manjunath Rajesh Bhat Murali S Rao

The United Nations Agenda 2030 for sustainable development goals includes the objective of achieving an inclusive, people-centered, and equitable society. The purpose of business is also moving towards the concept of Society 5.0. Therefore, the concept of social equity is gaining prominence in the context of inherently disadvantaged communities discriminated against based on their individual or group identities. Social entrepreneurship is an effective way to address social inequalities, especially empowering women at grassroots levels through innovative and sustainable business models. My talk at the Tamil Nadu Government Expo- 2024 organized by the State Government & TAHDCO aimed at focusing on the impact of social entrepreneurship on marginalized communities. The event aimed at building entrepreneurial skills among the marginalized section of society. It was an enriching experience to share the stage with Prof. Vijay Bhaskar, member of, the Planning Commission, Tamil Nadu Govt. and Mr. Thiru Srinivasan, CEO, of The Center of Excellence in Advanced Automotive Research, IIT Madras and Senior advisor, FaMe Tamil Nadu. At Bharathidasan Institute of Management Tiruchirapalli, I am working on the entrepreneurial ecosystem with Dr. Dr. Asit K Barma and this was a great opportunity to discuss our research work-in-progress. At the same time, I believe in the theory of change for women's empowerment. The TN-Expo platform provided the apt stage for increased awareness and agency of women.  Immensely grateful to Ms. N. Kayalvizhi, Minister for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, Tamil Nadu State Government for felicitating me with a memento depicting inclusivity & the concept of unity in diversity. TAHDCO #socialentrepreneurs #entrepreneurship #ecosystem #womenempowerment #grassroots #community #tamilnadu

In an era where digital know-how is essential, many rural women entrepreneurs face the hurdle of not having the resources to fully tap into the digital realm's vast potential, thereby, hindering their progress. Addressing this gap, we have successfully concluded the ‘Digital Upskilling of Women Entrepreneurs’ project, an initiative by nasscom foundation in partnership with Lowe's India. This empowering journey has navigated 300 rural women, including 150 agripreneurs from Mysore and 150 artisans from Ramanagara, Karnataka, into the #digital age. Through the support of DHAN Foundation and Tisser Artisans Trust, these talented entrepreneurs have leaped into online markets, embracing digital tools to expand their businesses. Nearly 85% are now proficient in digital communication, while 78% harness social media to boost their enterprises. A striking 69% have even stepped into e-commerce, pioneering their presence on digital platforms for business growth. Moreover, every beneficiary is now versed in at least one government scheme, with 98% knowing how to utilize these opportunities to their advantage. Hear the inspiring stories of these empowered women entrepreneurs! Pallavi Jalan Poulami Bhattacharyya Saksham Jha Deepika Arora Purna Choudhary Vartika Singh (Ph.D) #TechForGood #DigitalLiteracy #WomenEmpowerment #DigitalCommunication #Agripreneurs #DigitalIndia #DigitalBharat

Empowering women in rural communities through physical training of saheli’s We at Frontier Markets believe in the power of women to drive change and create sustainable communities. Embarking on a transformative journey to empower Sahelis, who in turn impact lives beyond their own boundaries. The Saheli Training program under the Rajiv Gandhi Innovation Award has been recognized for its commitment to empowering rural women in India. We are passionate to bridge the digital divide and ensure that women in rural areas have access to essential knowledge and tools that can elevate their economic prospects. “Growing up in the rural outskirts of Alwar, life was never easy. As a woman, I often felt limited by societal norms and lacked the resources to pursue my dreams. Our community heavily relied on agriculture, and while it sustained us, it was challenging to enhance our skills and adapt to the changing times. When I first heard about the Saheli Training Program, I was skeptical but curious. Little did I know that this program would become the turning point in my life. The physical training component introduced by Frontier Markets has been a game-changer, empowering us in ways we never thought possible.” says Anjali, Saheli from Alwar. Together, let's celebrate the triumphs of these empowered women as they strive to bring positive change to their families, communities, and beyond. #Sahelitrainingprogram #FrontierMarkets #SheLeadsBharat #ruralwomen #womenempowerment #digitaltraining #DoIT

Women’s day Self-reliant and independent, through an enabling entrepreneurial eco-system 12 million youth join the workforce every year in India. Both men and women. If there is one challenge, besides others, that India needs to address to continue its fast-paced economic growth, then it’s to keep its young population meaningfully engaged - in entrepreneurial and employment opportunities. This also helps avoid many social ills, if the youth is busy building a better future for themselves and in turn shaping a vibrant Bharat. Besides corporate world and the start-ups, which offer promising opportunities, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) play an important role in employment & enterprise – right from the neighbourhood boutique to the space satellite component manufacturing. National surveys peg women entrepreneurship at 20% in the MSME sector.  Over 80% of these women-led enterprises are micro units, run as sole proprietorships. At the policy level, a lot has been done, and more needs to be done by providing a level playing field (Equity v Equality) and expanding the funnel to encourage more women entrepreneurs through access to education, capital, technology and supportive eco-system especially for rural agripreneurs. The story is quite similar in many parts of the world – in Asia, Africa. So, here’s to celebrate the WOMENPRENEURS– in the corporate world, in the start-up eco-system and the MSMEs. #womenday #startup #MSME #vibrantbharat