Women's empowerment and economic development are deeply entwined: in one direction, development alone can play a significant role in reducing gender disparity; in the other, empowering women may boost development. Read on to learn about some of the most significant developments in the field of women's empowerment that occurred this week.
HOCKEY INDIA ANNOUNCE 22-MEMBER WOMEN'S TEAM FOR UPCOMING LEAGUE AGAINST SPAIN
Hockey India has selected a 22-member women's team to compete in the forthcoming FIH Women's Hockey Pro League matches against Spain in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The matches will take place on February 26 and 27, 2022, during the weekend. Savita, the squad's star goalie, will lead the team, while Deep Grace Ekka will serve as vice-captain. Sangita Kumari, a bright young striker from Jharkhand who made a mark with the Junior India squad, would be a fresh face for the Indian team.
WORLD THINKING DAY, DAY HONOURS FRIENDSHIP, SISTERHOOD, AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT
Every year on February 22nd, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts celebrates World Thinking Day (WAGGGS). The day honours friendship, sisterhood, and women's empowerment, with the goal of raising cash for the world's 10 million girl guides and scouts, who are spread across 150 nations.
World Thinking Day is an occasion to talk about topics that affect women and girls around the world. It also gives a larger platform for WAGGGS members to speak out about these challenges and propose solutions.
WOMEN TO DRIVE DELHI BUSES BY APRIL
Woman drivers will be on the roads of the national capital by April, after the Delhi Transport Department approved a request to relax the qualifying requirements for DTC and cluster bus drivers. No prior driving experience is required for women who apply for driving jobs. Female bus drivers, on the other hand, will be limited to automated buses.
Women are more careful drivers than men, according to the city's transportation department, and they should be encouraged to join the fleet. Only 1% of women are responsible for accidents, according to the government, and only 1.7% is traffic offenders.
The decision was reached during a meeting chaired by Ashish Kundra, Principal Secretary and Transport Commissioner. OP Mishra, Secretary, State Transport Authority, and other top officials from the department were also present.
OLAY COLLABORATES WITH LEAD TO LAUNCH STEM SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME FOR WOMEN
Women make up only 14% of the workforce in India's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields, according to the UN.
Leading skincare brand Olay believes that the world needs more women in STEM and that it is time to change the STEM gender gap equation in India. As a brand of science, but also proudly a brand of women, Olay believes that the world needs more women in STEM and that it is time to change the STEM gender gap equation in India.
Women are perceived as caretakers or homemakers, and female areas of study are limited to teaching, nursing, fine arts, and home economics, among other things, due to cultural constraints and conventional gender roles. That's why Olay created its 'STEM The Gap (/topic/stem-the-gap)' project, which encourages more Indian females to pursue STEM education and employment without fear. Olay has partnered with LEAD, India's leading School EdTech company, to develop a STEM scholarship programme for females.
UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER TO LAUNCH STEM SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INDIAN WOMEN
Five British Council scholarships in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) for master's degree female students from India and other South Asian nations have been announced by the University of Manchester. The fully-funded scholarships will cover full tuition costs as well as most expenditure connected with studying abroad, such as flights, visas, and a monthly stipend, with allowances made for accompanying children.
It was highlighted by the university as part of collaboration between the British Council and India's Department of Science and Technology (DST) on the Gender Advancement through Transforming Institutions, or GATI, initiative, which aims to advance women in STEM in India.
Professor of Environmental Geochemistry and Associate Dean for Internationalisation at the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Manchester, Dr David Polya, said, "With the new scholarship offering we hope we can help to further address the gender imbalance seen within STEM subjects alongside giving a passport to a successful career and a lifetime of achievement.”
Women in Business
YAMINI BHAT'S VYMO RAISES USD 22 MN
Yamini Bhat’s Vymo, an Intelligent Sales Engagement platform for financial institutions led by Bertelsmann India Investments with existing investors Emergence Capital and Sequoia Capital participating has raised $22 million in Series C funding round.
Yamini Bhat, Co-founder and CEO, said, “2021 was a momentous year for us: 20 percent + quarterly growth, 142 percent NRR, zero logo churn, entry into the US with wins like Berkshire Hathaway, and onboarding some of the largest Insurers in Japan. Sales tech is a $10 billion+ opportunity in just these two countries and this fundraise will help us accelerate our growth plans for these markets.”
Lack of timely coaching and interventions is driving 40 percent attrition in sales teams and a breakdown in productivity and sales managers cannot observe their teams in action.
KALAARI CAPITAL PLATFORM BACKS WOMEN FOUNDERS WITH A CORPUS OF 10 CRORE
Aastey, a sustainable athleisure brand for women of all shapes and sizes, has raised Rs 10 crore in a seed round from CXXO, a Kalaari Capital platform that invests in women entrepreneurs with a $10 million fund.
According to the brand, in India, performance gear has typically catered to a specific body type, neglecting the majority of women and encouraging body image worries. Aastey's mission, according to the statement, is to dispel myths and address the issue of body inclusiveness.
Its products are currently available in 16 different sizes to accommodate the wide range of body shapes seen in India.
WOMEN FOUNDERS PROGRAM LAUNCHED BY ACCENTURE IN INDIA
To help early-stage, women-led Indian startups in the B2B deep tech and enterprise SaaS domain grow and advance their businesses Accenture has launched the Women Founders program in India.
The Women Founders Program is focused on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, internet of things, cloud, blockchain, Web 3.0, metaverse, big data and analytics, and extended reality and registrations are open to early-stage B2B technology businesses that have at least one woman founder.
