Regarding startups, in 2016, we were able to spread out to more areas other than technology. Still we feel that there exists a gulf that needs to be crossed to reach target audience. Women have a tendency to stick to traditional sectors where they think they are comfortable to open a venture and go forward. For instance, once we got into the startup incubation project, we could work out a revenue model which was absent when we started things. From what we found, people have business role models, but not enough to inspire them to be one among them.
Once they take the plunge, they realise the tougher road ahead. For instance, sometimes funding turns out to be a roadblock to proceed further. I have experiences of women entrepreneurs complaining to me about how difficult it is to avail capital or get a loan from a bank despite having good academic credentials and a project idea in hand to boot. They ask us why they are being denied loans. This happens at a time when government channels too much money to promote entrepreneurship though it is not proactive in driving them towards implementation. Large scale implementation of these kinds of projects is possible only with the cooperation of government.
The problem lies here. The government is behind things that can be easily put into practice. That which requires long term research and effort is given a cold shoulder. Also, they are absolutely clueless on taking them to the next level. There are success stories of self-help groups. WBIP but doesn’t look at the bottom of the pyramid. Our clients are women from educated, middle-class backgrounds with sound finance. Some of them might not have had thought of starting their own enterprises, unless or until they are thrown out of the comfort zone of a properly paid employment or family responsibilities. They give it a miss for a long time before starting to think about it.
Once Bridge (a WBIP project carried out in the capital city towards assuring accommodation facilities for single women from other places), was launched, we realised the opportunity to collaborate with the government policy implementation. There is a ‘Code for Accommodation’ model that we have developed. Now it is being developed so that it becomes a policy with assured implementation. When energy and time are in full supply, let’s make the best out of it rather than wait for things to pan out on their own.
Policy of excellence
Asha Jomis, an M.Phil in Technology Policy from University of Cambridge, is a recipient of the Commonwealth shared scholarship. While pursuing her Masters in Technology Management at University of Kerala, she also had the opportunity to intern at the United Nations Headquarters in New York besides a stint in media.
