`6.5 cr prize challenge to create work for one million women

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru

Two Bengalurubased companies, The Nudge Institute and Mphasis, have announced a 'Digital Naukri Challenge,' on Monday to create digital work opportunities for 1 million women by 2030. With a prize purse of Rs 6.5 crore and a duration spanning 20 months, the challenge invites tech startups and innovators to unlock gainful employment opportunities for more women in India, said Deepa Nagraj, Senior VP & Global Head-ESG, Sparkle Innovation Ecosystem, and Communications, Mphasis. The companies have collaborated with Manthan, a Government of India platform for research and innovation to promote collaborations at scale, a press release issued by The Nudge Institute said.

"By bridging the digital divide and unlocking opportunities at scale, this initiative showcases how collective efforts can create an inclusive future, where technology drives progress and transforms lives," said Sapna Pothi, Director, Strategic Alliances, Principal Scientific Adviser, GoI, who has also played a vital role in the development of Manthan. "While female workforce participation is rising, data shows that women remain concentrated in a few low-productivity sectors, highlighting the need to close solution gaps. At Mphasis, we're committed to supporting initiatives that drive real change," the release quoted Deepa Nagraj as saying. According to her, India's female labour force participation rate is only 37 per cent. "In urban India, for instance, the labour force participation rate for single women aged 25-29 is 60 per cent, as compared to an abysmal 20 per cent among their married counterparts," she went on to add.