IIT Delhi & EXL Empower 500 Women Entrepreneurs Through Action Research Initiative
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and data analytics and solutions firm EXL have introduced an action research initiative to empower more than 500 women entrepreneurs from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in North India. The initiative aims at promoting financial and digital literacy, economic independence, and a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in India.
Supported by EXL's CSR initiative, the project cuts across six states: Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Rajasthan. Under the programme, IIT Delhi created an exhaustive handbook that was prepared as a self-learning tool for micro-level women entrepreneurs.
"We believe this collective effort will have a ripple effect, resulting in increased economic empowerment for women in India", said Prof. Seema Sharma, the project's Principal Investigator from the Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi.
The campaign started with a three-day workshop in IIT Delhi, where over 100 women entrepreneurs underwent practical training. The workshop included live sessions and product demonstrations, allowing participants to test theoretical knowledge on practical business situations.
"By equipping women with basic financial and digital skills, we are not just creating economic independence but also adding to the entrepreneurial ecosystem of India", stated Satyajit Gupta, VP-2, Asst General Counsel, and Head of India Legal & Global CSR at EXL.
Project Co-PI Prof. Gourav Dwivedi pointed to the larger vision of the initiative: "This project bridges the gap between academia, grassroots entrepreneurs, and the market".
With the success of the first phase, the project will soon expand in the months to come with the aim of empowering more women entrepreneurs and creating a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem throughout the nation.
