This article is part of our Rural Reset series, where we evaluate forward-looking, long-term solutions to the issues and challenges facing the people of rural India. Check out our LinkedIn page every Wednesday to find proposals for innovative solutions in the areas of education, gender and livelihoods.

In pre-independent India, in the quaint village of Naigoan, a nine-year-old girl was married off with no education to support her. Despite oppression by the British, class divisions, the roaring caste system and knee-deep gender inequality, this warrior founded with her husband, at the age of 17, the first school for girls in India. Savitribai Phule, widely considered the mother of Indian feminism, has been a role model and has built an unshakable foundation for the growth of women in India. Though India has grown manifold since the Phule era, the predicament of women in rural India remains.

India has long been a superstition-ridden society with an invisible cloak of culture binding women, especially women in rural areas. Time and again, government schemes and projects have been initiated to focus on uplifting the status of rural women. However, the impact of these actions has not seeped through deep enough. One reason for this, is that it is not considered natural or culturally appropriate for women to stand up and seek what they desire. All through history, women have been told what to do and what not to do. And more often than not, men have been the ones dictating the norms. Rural women have been quietly running small businesses, farms, families and households without any recognition of their prevalence and power. By altering this dynamic and increasing the abundance of female leaders and role models in rural society, we can observe a real change for women.

Female involvement in local governance organizations: 

One way that women can take the lead in their communities is through involvement in local governance organizations. A clear example of the benefits of women’s leadership within these organizations is through the introduction of reservations for women in the Panchayati Raj. Through the structure of the Panchayati Raj, locals directly elect members to councils that are then responsible for decision-making an array of public good decisions from budgeting to social services such as education and primary health care. With the 73rd Amendment, required that a fraction of all seats at all levels be reserved for female members. The introduction of this reservation has had a huge impact on the involvement of women in community building. It has been found that villages with women Pradhans are twice as likely to have addressed a request or a complaint as compared to their male counterparts and this difference is significant. This scenario shows that the political communication is influenced when the leaders and the citizens are of the same sex. Women who run households or have issues are more likely to go to another woman to find solutions to their problems. While this is a micro-level solution, the increasing participation of women in such governance organizations across the country has the ability to create a domino effect. These female Pradhans have stood up as some of the first role-models for a new generation of rural female leaders.

Promoting rural women entrepreneurship: 

Another area in which rural women have the power to take the lead in their communities is as entrepreneurs. Millions of rural women have been modestly undertaking entrepreneurial ventures for years. However, in order to firmly establish themselves as entrepreneurial leaders in their communities, women after require more than an enterprising spirit. Programs like the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), have organized millions of rural women into self-help groups (SHGs) to provide loans and support to women from their own communities. While SHGs are a great start, rural women often require more than capital and support in order to successfully manage their enterprises. Nearly 1 in 4 Indian women remain outside of the formal financial system. By providing women entrepreneurs with digital financial literacy tools and training, these women can more flexibly and effectively manage the financial end of their enterprises. And private sector actors also have a role to play in the promotion of rural female entrepreneurs. Impact investors, incubators and large-enterprises alike have the resources and responsibility to support these women by providing advisory services and access to emerging technologies.

Promoting entrepreneurship among rural women is not just good business, it creates new female community leaders and improves the wellbeing of these women and their families. The Brookings Institute found that programs aimed at increasing women’s participation in entrepreneurship not only increased women’s earning potential but also their self-confidence and positive perception of their societal roles. And that’s not where the impact ends. An International Labor Organization (ILO) policy brief on rural women’s entrepreneurship noted that entrepreneurship legitimizes women’s control over resources, giving women more agency and autonomy over theirs and their families’ healthcare and education decisions. These women also become role-models for younger girls and expand their perceptions of the role of women in their communities beyond traditional norms.

Conclusion: 

Indian women have the power to be the drivers of the fastest growing economy in the world. What they require is the leadership and support to seize upon this power. It is human nature to seek answers or help or validation in all our actions. Having someone to follow, provides us with the motivation and a little nudge in the right direction. And this is exactly what the rural Indian women need. Strong role-models can help to bring about political, economic, social and financial independence for women in rural areas of India. Women and non-women alike thus need to realign to focus on the support and promotion of women in their lives and communities. The next generation of rural girls and adolescents will follow our example.

This article is part of our Rural Reset series, where we evaluate forward-looking, long-term solutions to the issues and challenges facing the people of rural India. Check out our LinkedIn page every Wednesday to find proposals for innovative solutions in the areas of education, gender and livelihoods.

Introduction: 

In our increasingly digital world, access to mobile technology and the internet is no longer optional. Over the last few years, broadband internet access has emerged as on-par with other public utilities such as water and electricity in its necessity to participate in the economy and society at-large. Digital payments and mobile money transactions are estimated to grow by 20% to a value of $135.2bn in 2023. And it is predicted that this year Indian internet users will spend, on average, 2 hours 44 minutes on mobile internet each day.

It is no secret that residents of India’s large urban centers have much more wide ranging access to internet services than those who reside in rural areas. While rural India has a higher overall number of internet users, only 22% of rural Indians had Internet access in contrast to 81% of those in urban areas. However, just as pervasive, and less widely-discussed, is the gender disparity in internet and mobile technology access. As more of our daily lives move online, women, and particularly those women in rural areas, are getting left behind.

Why does the gender gap exist?

As it currently stands, only 35% of India’s internet users are female. When examined through a specifically rural lens, this number only decreases. Part of this divide is correlated to a similar divide in access to mobile devices for women. While the majority of Indians access the internet through mobile devices and smartphones, a Gallup Poll estimated that 15% fewer women have any access to mobile devices. And even those women with mobile devices are less likely than their male counterparts to use them to access mobile internet. In response to COVID-19 lockdown measures and the growing availability of low-cost, internet-enabled mobile devices, more and more rural users have been able to move online over the last few months. However, cost and availability are not the only barriers keeping women from accessing mobile and internet services.

Traditional social norms play an outsized role in women’s specific lack of mobile internet access. In many rural families, traditional norms around women’s roles in the family structure are strictly adhered to. Because women are expected to assume the role of caretaker and homemaker for their husband and children, male family members see no need for women to access mobile phones and mobile internet. As a result, families often prioritize the purchase of mobile phones for husbands and male children. Women are thus forced to navigate patriarchal home structures in order to utilize family phones for activities beyond making basic texts and calls. Female children who are granted mobile access early in life, also frequently lose this access with the onset of puberty. A study conducted by USC on female mobile access concluded that fears of mobile internet interfering with females chastity and focus on caretaking activities leads to females use of mobile phones to sharply decline in comparison to that of male children around the age of 14. Closing the gender gap in women’s access to mobile phones and the internet will involve addressing both the physical and cultural barriers to access.

Why should we close the gap? 

Closing the gender tech gap is one of the most urgent and important ways to improve the status of rural women. Women who are able to participate digitally are able to attain a higher level of education, become economic contributors and participate more actively in their communities. By closing the gap, we open the door to a new world of opportunities for rural women.
As COVID-19 continues to close schools and create barriers to traditional classroom learning, access to mobile internet is necessary for womens continued educational attainment. In households with only one internet-enabled device, a prioritization of male children increasingly stands in opposition to female children’s educational pursuits. By enabling equal access to mobile internet, female children and adolescent women will be able to actively participate in online learning forums and keep from falling behind.

Mobile ownership and internet access are also required to open a mobile money account and participate in digital payment transactions. These digital payments are considered more secure than cash transactions and their transaction history can now be used to qualify for credit. Armed with mobile internet, rural women have the ability to earn for their families, pursue entrepreneurial ventures and build their financial independence. Rural economies could be totally transformed through an increase in women’s access to mobile internet.

Finally, empowering women through mobile internet access has the ability to build stronger social bonds between women who are typically isolated from their communities. In traditional rural communities, women are forced to balance caretaking and earning responsibilities, often at the expense of their community social participation. Through widespread mobile internet access, women would gain access to online communities and social groups, enabling them to build bonds with other women regardless of their geographies. This would not only improve women’s mental health, but build stronger, more connected communities for both men and women.

Why now?  

It is therefore clear that we must ensure that more women are given the ability to take advantage of mobile phone and internet access. One notable outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic is the realization that unequal digital access has the ability to exacerbate existing societal inequalities to a new level. As digital spaces increasingly enhance and replace physical ones, it is more vital than ever women are given the access and knowledge necessary to fully partake in this transformation.

This article is part of our Rural Reset series, where we evaluate forward-looking, long-term solutions to the issues and challenges facing the people of rural India. Check out our LinkedIn page every Wednesday to find proposals for innovative solutions in the areas of education, gender and livelihoods. 

The problem with traditional subject learning 

Rural schools currently provide 21st century students with a 20th century education. The challenges of our modern world require leaders armed with the ability to think in interdisciplinary, innovative ways. The only way to address issues such as climate change, global inequality, widespread technological innovation and the prospect of future pandemics will be through analytical, well-reasoned decision-making. However through their emphasis on rote learning and math/writing curriculum, rural schools aren’t building leaders, but rather followers.

To create well-rounded students that are prepared to face the obstacles that this current moment presents, schools must move beyond the traditional academic subjects taught to students. Rural schools must develop new curriculum and teaching methodologies that integrate cultural, interpersonal and technical understanding into their existing instruction. The rural leaders of the future require this much.

The need for new curriculum 

The skills and capabilities currently taught in rural schools are not those that enable students for success later in life. A strict emphasis on math and writing curriculum leaves little room for other subjects such as creative and cultural learning. While math and writing will always be important, a curriculum that includes only those subjects comes up short in the development of well-rounded, socially and academically intelligent students.

There should be a greater emphasis on art, music, dance and those subjects that foster creativity in students. Artistic pursuits are not only a crucial part of creating skilled, well-rounded students. Arts education is associated with higher facilities for sensitivity and interpersonal communication. And creativity should not be segregated to only extracurricular activities. There are clear benefits to encouraging creativity in standard school assignments as well. A Gallup study found that primary and secondary school teachers who frequently create assignments that require students to think creatively are much more likely to observe cognitive skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and deep inter-subject connections in their students. As art teacher Kendra Vidvalaya has stated, “Instilling a love for artistic activities in schoolchildren would pave the way for creating creative adults.”

Schools should also build cultural education into their curriculum. Cultural education creates a deeper understanding of one’s own culture and a deeper understanding and acceptance of cultures different from one’s own. By building local cultural events and intercultural lessons into the academic calendar, schools send the message that celebrating culture is important and something to be proud of. India is a country of great cultural diversity in a vast, diverse world. Through an emphasis on connecting with one’s own culture while embracing those of others, cultural education prepares students to be global citizens while grounding them in their own identity.

The need for new methodologies 

A culture of widespread rote learning is also holding rural Indian students back from achieving their full potential. Most rural primary and secondary schools’ teaching methodologies emphasize memorization and reproduction of facts and figures found in course textbooks. In fact, a study from the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) concluded that only 14 percent of Indian classrooms use teaching materials other than the textbook. This strict emphasis on rote memorization creates students who are able to recall information without any depth of understanding or critical analytical skills. And it handicaps these students later in life. A report in The Economist found that fewer than 25% of Indian-educated engineers are employable. Rote learning equips students with two-dimensional knowledge to live in a three-dimensional world.

Rural schools must employ more engaging, blended forms of instruction inside of their classrooms. One way to do this is by increasing the “real-world” application of existing topics. Students learning basic math should be asked to solve word problems that build connections between multiplication and interest rates for example. Visual and tactile methods of problem-solving can also be used.

Schools must also provide students the opportunity to become more active participants in their own education. One clear example of this practice is through NITI Aayog’s Atal Tinkering Labs. These ‘maker spaces’ focus on nurturing a spirit of creativity and innovation in students. Participants are encouraged to build their own solutions to presented issues ranging from household inconveniences to disaster management. Spaces such as the Tinkering Labs give students the opportunity to learn by doing rather than listening, and build important understanding of concepts outside of their textbook applications.

Finally, students should also be given opportunities to apply their in class learnings to situations outside of the classroom. By working with local industries to create internship and apprenticeship programs, students will start to build connections between their academic skills and professional opportunities from an early age. Apprenticeships have the added bonus of providing students the opportunity to develop professional and interpersonal skills.

Conclusion: the future leaders of India 

The job market in 2020 looks very different than it did 10 or 20 years ago. It is no longer enough for candidates to have merely completed their education in a given subject. Recruiters now look for job applicants who demonstrate applicable professional skills and have the social and emotional intelligence to thrive in a given workplace. However, because of their schools’ sole focus on math and literacy education, many students in rural areas don’t have the opportunity to develop the technical and soft skills required for future success.

Even outside of the job market, studies have shown that well-rounded students are more likely to achieve success in all parts of society. Rural schools must thus adapt their curriculum and instruction methods to the needs of the day, and the needs of their students. The only way to build the future leaders of tomorrow is to start today.

This article is part of our Rural Reset series, where we evaluate forward-looking, long-term solutions to the issues and challenges facing the people of rural India. Check out our LinkedIn page every Wednesday to find proposals for innovative solutions in the areas of education, gender and livelihoods.

Women are the backbone of rural society. From their crucial roles as caregivers and mothers to their high levels of participation in the rural workforce, it is clear the importance of these women to the functioning of their communities. But in spite of their important contributions, rural women remain highly disadvantaged in comparison to their male counterparts.

Rural women encounter numerous barriers to success. One of these barriers is unequal access to education and healthcare. A study from 2017 found that rural women are 2-3 times more likely to be illiterate than men from their same communities. This discrepancy stems partially from a prioritization of male children in sending children to schools. More than 23 million Indian women also drop-out out of school each year because of improper access to menstrual care and hygienic facilities. These conditions lead in part to an over-representation of women in the informal sector and un- or underpaid labor roles.

Rural women also experience inauspicious conditions inside of the household. That same study from 2017 found that in some parts of India, as much as 46% of rural women find themselves in child marriages, and 31.2% of these women experience frequent intimate partner violence. Deeply embedded norms around the “proper” behavior of women influence such violence with over half of men surveyed as part of a report on gender-based violence suggesting that they are justified to beat a woman if she “leaves the home without permission.”

While these numbers suggest a bleak outlook for the millions of women who live in rural areas, this is not to suggest that progress has not been made. Today more Indian women than ever before are accessing education, receiving healthcare, participating in the workforce and free from violence in the home. However, it is clear that there is still a long way to come before rural women are able to thrive, free from gender-based obstacles and challenges.

Below we briefly introduce three ideas that we believe have the potential to improve the lives of women in rural areas and build a better, more equitable rural society. This is by no means an exhaustive list of the interventions necessary to make real the promise of rural gender equality. However, these ideas do have the power to make a serious difference in the lives of rural women.

The call for more female leaders in rural society 

India has long been a superstition-ridden society where there is an invisible cloak of culture binding women, especially in rural areas. Time and again, government schemes and projects have been initiated to focus on uplifting the status of rural women. However, the impact of these actions has not seeped through deep enough. One reason for this is that it is not considered natural or culturally appropriate for women to stand up and seek what they desire. All through history, women have been told what to do and what not to do. And more often than not, men have been the ones dictating the norms. By simply altering this dynamic and increasing the prevalence of female leaders and role models, we can observe a real change for women.

The Census of 2011 showed that 81% of the female workforce in India live in rural areas. This statistic proves that these women are the real drivers of the fastest growing economy in the world. It is human nature to seek answers, help or validation in all our actions. Having someone to follow, provides us with the motivation and a little nudge in the right direction. And this is exactly what the rural Indian women need. Strong role models can help to bring about political, economic, social and financial independence for women in rural areas of India.

Universal Access to Menstrual Care, Period. 

Periods are not a new phenomenon. But for millions of rural women, the onset of menstruation is associated with a significant decrease in quality of life. Lack of access to menstrual hygiene is the fifth biggest killer of women in the world each year. And for those who continue to live with poor menstrual care, monthly periods can mean pain, infection and the use of materials such as sand and wood shavings in lieu of menstrual pads. The stigma around menstruation in rural areas can also take a psychological toll on women as they are forced to drop-out of school and restrict their participation in family and religious rituals during their monthly cycle. Every woman deserves to live with the dignity that proper menstrual care provides.

Achieving universal access to menstrual care, particularly for women in rural areas, would therefore significantly improve women’s overall health and allow them to participate more fully in society. While periods may only last a few days, their impact on the lives of rural women can be felt throughout the entire month. Through proper education and access to care, these women can live more fully throughout all of their days.

Mind the Gap: Rural Women and Technology Access

In our increasingly digital world, access to technology and the internet is no longer optional. Over the last few years, broadband internet access has emerged as on-par with other public utilities such as water and electricity in its necessity to participate in the economy and society at-large. It is no secret that residents of India’s large urban centers have much more wide ranging access to internet services than the 65% of the population that reside in rural areas. Just as pervasive, but less widely-discussed, is the gender disparity in internet and technology access. As more of our daily lives move online, women, and particularly women in rural areas, are being left behind.

Closing the gender tech gap is one of the most urgent and important ways to improve the status of rural women. As it currently stands, only 29% of India’s internet users are female. While limited rural connectivity and access to internet-enabled devices are factors in this disparity, traditional social norms and the prioritization of male children also play an outsized role. Therefore, we must ensure that more areas are digitally connected, and also that more women are given the ability to take advantage of this connectivity. Digitally literate women are able to attain a higher level of education, become economic contributors and participate more actively in their communities. By closing the gap, we open the door to a new world of opportunities for rural women.