ICT and Women Empowerment: A case study on small scale service providers

Dr. Seemin Rubab

Senior Lecturer, Physics, NIT Srinagar

drseeminrubab@gmail.com

Introduction

These days the term information and communication technology (ICT) has come to mean all technical means used to handle information and aid communication, including computer and network hardware as well as necessary software. Among other things, ICT has opened vistas for small scale enterprise. In fact ICT could be of immense help in self employment and empowerment of women. Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social or economic strength of individuals and communities. It often involves the empowered developing confidence in their own capacities. Women's ability to take advantage of ICTs is however dependent on education, conducive policies and an enabling environment in their regions to extend communications infrastructure to them. Examples of ICT impacting women include Health awareness through telemedicine, Networking of women professionals, Running small enterprises from home etc. It can be helpful in setting SOHO (Small Office/Home office) business in areas such as patenting, proof reading of books and journals, DTP jobs, free lance journalism, science communication, personalised tuition, clinical pathology jobs, scientific toys and model making, catering, boutique and tailoring,  beautician, henna artist, masseuse etc. All these jobs/services could be run from home using a cell phone or Personal computer (PC) and internet connection. Local cable or internet can be used to advertise and market their product and services. This study deals with potential of ICT in enhancing the income of semi skilled and moderately skilled women.

SOHO Business opportunities for women

Small office home office (SOHO) concept is picking up among women.  They prefer SOHO to spend more time with their families and to enjoy greater flexibility. It is also advantageous for women as there is no glass ceiling to limit their growth.  Many SOHO opportunities exist for women in Kashmir. Several opportunities have been tapped while other may be realized in future.

Government of India is also doing its bit in promoting self employment opportunities for women. ‘Internship for self employment’ Program of Department of science and Technology (DST) is one such  initiative on Government’s part in helping women empowerment through ICT. Internship scheme has been designed for providing opportunities to women scientists and technologists who desire to return to mainstream science after a career break. It mainly concerns with utilization of expertise of women scientists in areas such as patenting, proof reading for science books and journals, technical writing and technical translation, science journalism, medical transcription, clinical pathology jobs etc. The trained interns can form professional network. There is a special drive for promoting women in the field of Intellectual Property Rights.  Depending upon requirement these women trained in patenting may be assigned jobs on contractual basis. They can run their own office from home. The scheme is being coordinated and implemented by Patent Facilitating Centre (PFC) of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) on behalf of DST. The selection of the candidates is done by an all India Examination. The fellowship examination is held every year in February at four centres namely Delhi, Pune, Kharagpur and Chennai. The interns undergo training with a suitable stipend for a period of one year.

Creative women scientists may plunge into the field of science communication after going through some distance or online training. Expertise of female science communicators may be used in producing exhibition modules in several areas including history of science, low cost experimentation, science -technology - society issues, gender issues, health education, mathematics and astronomy. Women scientists/technologists can even start an enterprise in science toys and model making. There is a big market for science model/toys in India. Nobody has tapped this potential as yet. They can advertise and market their product through internet. Websites like www.sci-toys.com and arvindguptatoys.com will be helpful in getting started.

One emerging use of internet technology is coming up in personalized tuition. A group of tutors in various subjects may form a professional organization and can operate through web. One such professional network is Tutor vista. Certified tutors of tutor vista earn Rs 15,000-20,000 per month.  They are trained in using ICT specially the technology of tele-conferencing. For start ups it is better to join as tutor in an existing network, gain experience and start their own local network. The infrastructure required for this type of venture is a PC and a reliable internet connection. Additional hardware may be required for tele-conferencing.

Small scale service providers in Kashmir

Many semi skilled women in Kashmir run their business from home and advertise through word of mouth. Satisfied clients recommend their services to other prospective clients. Many small scale service providers such as beautician, make up and Henna artist, tailor, baby sitter, doula, contractual domestic help, tiffin providers etc. operate in this way. A beautician on call does not need to hire a parlour space and pay electricity and water charges.  This way they cut on their cost and optimize their gain.  She may attend clients in a given locality on same day to cut on her travel time and cost. Their services are a boon for working women. Generally working women have paucity of time. They do not have time for skin care, pedicure or manicure. They may call the beautician at home and get the needful done.

The other emerging opportunities exist for tailoring and contractual domestic help services. In Kashmir due to weather conditions, lots of upholstery, curtains and quilts are required. With the advent of winter most of households want to get the covers of quilts, mattresses and blankets get stitched. During winters woollen curtains are also required. These things are best stitched at home to get the perfect fit. Few enterprising female tailors have started providing their services at the client’s home at the call of phone.  

Kashmiri marriages are a fortnightly affair. There are several steps involved and it takes 10-15 days of celebration. The family needs help of contractual domestic help to entertain guests. Many domestic help provide their services on contractual basis on the occasion of marriage, child birth, Hajj departure etc.  

Due to urbanization and other reasons joint families are giving ways to nuclear family. More often in such families women are also engaged in regular jobs. During pregnancy and child birth such woman need emotional, psychological and physical support. In developed countries and in Indian metros services of Doula are available for such purposes. Doulas are trained as child birth educator.  They are however not supposed to perform clinical duties. Many Doula offer phone and email support as well as prenatal and postpartum visits to ensure the mother is informed and supported. A postpartum doula provides support to the mother and family following the birth. This may include breastfeeding support, newborn care assistance, cooking, light housekeeping and errands. She offers education, companionship and support following the birth. She also provides evidence-based information on emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant feeding, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents.

Impact of ICT on Business

Before the advent of cell phone technology, the small scale service providers were underemployed most of the time. During an informal interview a beautician revealed that her income has enhanced by (30-40) % after using a cellphone. On a good day she may make around Rs. 1000. They Henna and makeup artists may carry a portfolio of their designs in cell phone and offer them to their prospective clients to choose from. The business of these small scale service providers can improve a lot if they form a network and use mass media such as local cable network to advertise for their services along with their contact information.

Requisite Intervention

The small scale service providers may be trained in using ICT and networking. They may be helped in advertising of their services.  The may be trained in using internet and opening their website. Makeup and Henna artists, tailors etc. may be trained in making their profiles on cell phone or laptops. Training of Doula is conducted in Indian Metros like Mumbai and Bengaluru by Indian Chapter of Childbirth and Post-partum Professional Association (CAPPA). Local chapters of CAPPA may be opened for training and networking of Doulas.  

References

Seemin Rubab ’Women in Science, Engineering and Technology: Challenges and Opportunities’ Proceedings of  National conference on socio-economic development: Challenges before Women scientists, Technologists  and Engineers held during Feb 13-15, 2009 at NIT Rourkela.

S. Mukhopadhya and VB Kamble  (2006) Information and Communication Technology and Gender, Vigyan Prasar, NOIDA

Sugra Chunawala (2003) Gender and Science, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doula

http://www.dst.gov.in