PUNE (India CSR): Laying a strong foundation to empower rural women entrepreneurs in the digital economy, Nasscom Foundation, in collaboration with Tieto, successfully trained 250 rural women entrepreneurs, enabling them to participate more actively in the digital economy. The programme aimed to strengthen business capabilities and enable women to actively participate in India’s growing digital economy. Implemented across Ambegaon, Chakan, Haveli, Junnar, Khed, and Manchar blocks in Pune district, Maharashtra, the initiative supported women entrepreneurs from the handicrafts, handloom, manufacturing, and processing sectors, with a focused approach to translating digital access into measurable business outcomes.
The initiative was designed to help rural women entrepreneurs make meaningful use of smartphones and the internet for their businesses, going beyond basic access to practical and independent digital use. Through a 50-hour, instructor-led training programme, participants gained hands-on skills in digital and financial literacy, online payments, social commerce, digital marketing, e-accounting, and awareness of relevant government schemes.
Speaking on the impact of the initiative, Jyoti Sharma, CEO, Nasscom Foundation, said,“Digital empowerment creates lasting impact when it enables confidence, independence, and tangible economic progress. This collaboration with Tieto demonstrates how focused, hands-on skilling have enabled 250 rural women entrepreneurs to not only adopt digital tools, but to use them effectively for income generation, market access, and business decision-making. The outcomes reinforce our belief that when women are equipped with the right digital and financial capabilities, they become powerful drivers of inclusive growth”.
Ashwani Batra, Director & Head of Finance Operations India & Americas,Tieto India said, “At Tieto, we believe technology creates value only when it is accessible, practical and inclusive. Through our collaboration with Nasscom Foundation, this initiative focused on enabling rural women entrepreneurs to use digital tools with confidence for payments, marketing, and business management. The collaboration marks an important step toward building long-term digital capability and resilience among rural women entrepreneurs”.
Through the training, women entrepreneurs showed strong adoption of digital tools and greater financial independence. Over 90 percent now actively use digital payment platforms, with more than 86 percent managing their business transactions independently. Nearly all participants have access to smartphones and the internet, enabling direct engagement with customers and digital platforms. Confidence in using social media for business promotion has also increased, with platforms such as WhatsApp Business emerging as effective channels for customer outreach and sales.
The initiative has also contributed to tangible economic outcomes as nearly half of the women entrepreneurs reported an increase in monthly income, along with a visible shift towards higher income brackets. Social commerce platforms played a meaningful role in income enhancement, particularly through direct customer engagement models. Importantly, the intervention strengthened entrepreneurial independence, with a marked increase in independently owned enterprises, reflecting greater decision-making power and recognition of women as primary business owners.
Additionally, almost all participants now have access to formal banking services, with a sharp rise in ATM card usage supporting easier withdrawals and digital transactions. Women showed awareness of cyber fraud, indicating that women entrepreneurs are engaging with digital platforms in a more informed and secure manner. At the same time, the adoption of basic accounting practices and digital bookkeeping tools signals a gradual shift toward more organized and sustainable business operations.
Despite growing digital access in rural areas, many women struggled to use technology effectively for business growth. Through Nasscom Foundation’s collaboration with Tieto, the initiative addressed a key gap faced by rural women entrepreneurs. By focusing on hands-on digital and financial skilling, the programme bridged this gap, leading to higher adoption of digital payments and social commerce, along with improved business confidence among participants.
(India CSR)
