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Small and medium enterprises (<keyword id="20086849" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SMEs" source="keywords">SMEs</keyword>) are driving a major surge in <keyword id="21881529" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="job-applications" source="keywords">job applications</keyword> across key sectors, with more than 35 million job applications recorded in the first eight months of 2024, according to a report by jobs and professional networking platform apna.co. The growth is fueled by rising demand in sectors like BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), BPO (Business Process Outsourcing), and hospitality. The report highlights that the surge in job applications is largely for roles such as Sales &amp; Marketing Managers, Accounting Technicians, Telecallers, Back Office Executives, and Business Development Associates. These positions are critical for the expansion of businesses in these sectors, and the growing demand reflects a strong upward trend in hiring. "SMBs and MSMEs employ more than 110 million people, making them the backbone of our economy. Their success is crucial for our nation's journey towards achieving a USD 5 trillion economy," said Nirmit Parikh, Founder &amp; CEO of apna.co. Parikh emphasised that the demand for skilled workers in these sectors is expected to continue growing, creating vast opportunities for <keyword id="20019820" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="job-seekers" source="keywords">job seekers</keyword> across India. <h2>Major growth in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities</h2>An interesting trend noted in the report is that over 55% of the total job applications for SMB roles came from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, including Jaipur, Indore, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kochi, and Bhubaneswar. As businesses expand into these cities, the talent pool is evolving to meet the growing demand, fostering a symbiotic relationship between employers and job seekers. Out of the 35 million job applications received, 14 million came from women, marking a 30% year-on-year increase in female participation. Women are increasingly taking on roles across diverse fields like finance, accounts, marketing, and graphic design, reflecting their rising involvement in the workforce. As SMEs and MSMEs continue to grow, the <keyword id="19972727" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employment-opportunities" source="keywords">employment opportunities</keyword> they generate are set to further contribute to India’s economic goals, fueling progress toward the USD 5 trillion economy target. (With inputs from PTI)

Small businesses generated 35 million job applications till Aug 2024, 14 million were from women: Report

In the Pindwara village of Rajasthan, a grassroots-level initiative led by local women has transformed the community's approach to nutrition. The women, part of a self-help group, began cultivating kitchen gardens to ensure a steady supply of diverse and nutritious food for their families. These gardens now yield various fruits and vegetables, contributing to a balanced diet and reducing the community's dependence on market-bought, often less nutritious food items. This initiative has improved health and empower women by giving them control over their family's nutrition. Similarly, in the tribal regions of Chhattisgarh, a collective effort by local community leaders has revitalized traditional agricultural practices. The community has reintroduced indigenous crops like millets and pulses, which are more resilient to the changing climate and require fewer resources to cultivate. These crops are rich in essential nutrients and have historically been part of the local diet. The community's efforts have not only preserved these traditional foods but also improved the nutritional status of the population, particularly children and women. These <keyword id="22748061" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="community-led" source="keywords">community-led</keyword> initiatives are part of a broader pattern observed in a recent study on <keyword id="22747862" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="diet-diversity" source="keywords">diet diversity</keyword> in <keyword id="20109648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rural-India" source="keywords">rural India</keyword>. The qualitative study by NGO Vitamin Angels India and supported by UNICEF, conducted across several states, found that communities with strong local leadership and grassroots initiatives showed significant improvements in diet diversity and nutritional outcomes. According to government data, about 17% of children in the age group of 0-5 years are underweight, while 36% are stunted and 6% are wasted (too thin for their height, indicating acute malnutrition). Stunted, wasted, and underweight are key indicators of malnutrition in children aged 0-5 years. The research highlighted that while government programs and interventions are essential, the involvement and initiative of the community are critical to the success and sustainability of these efforts. One of the key findings of the study was that communities with active local participation in nutrition-related activities, such as kitchen gardening and the cultivation of traditional crops, had a higher intake of diverse and nutritious food. The research, which employed a mix of focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and home observations, reveals how collective and individual contexts -- ranging from socio-cultural norms to economic challenges -- influence dietary practices across different communities like the brick-kiln workers, fishers, and salt pan workers among others. This was particularly evident in regions where women played a central role in these initiatives. The study also noted that these communities were more resilient to food insecurity and were better able to cope with economic and environmental challenges. For example, the study looked into the lives of salt pan workers in Jodhpur who prioritize their children's nutrition despite financial hardships. They ensure that their children never go hungry, even if it means offering biscuits or bread-milk. It suggested that while government initiatives provide the necessary framework and resources, real change happens when communities take ownership of these programmes and adapt them to their local contexts. To enhance the effectiveness of nutritional interventions for pregnant women and children under five, several key recommendations emerge from the study. First, there is a critical need to strengthen the role of ASHA and Anganwadi workers, who are often the primary source of health information in many communities. By providing these workers with advanced training that equips them to offer tailored advice based on the specific socio-cultural and economic contexts of the families they serve, the reach and impact of nutritional programs can be significantly increased. Subsidies for essential complementary foods are another vital measure to address the financial barriers that many families face. These subsidies would ensure that even in economically disadvantaged households, children receive the necessary nutrients during crucial developmental stages, the study recommended. Additionally, promoting a blend of legacy knowledge with modern nutritional insights can lead to more culturally acceptable and effective practices. Health education programs that respect and incorporate local beliefs while introducing scientifically backed practices are likely to be more successful in achieving sustainable behavioral change. Support for maternal health is also paramount. Implementing programs that provide additional food or rest for pregnant women, particularly during the last trimester, can have a positive impact on both maternal and child health outcomes. These programs should be designed with an understanding of local familial structures and dynamics, ensuring that they are accessible and acceptable within the community. Community-based nutritional programs should be developed to emphasize the importance of child nutrition and encourage collective action. Workshops and informational sessions led by trusted community members or healthcare professionals can play a crucial role in disseminating knowledge and encouraging healthy practices. Finally, improving access to fresh and nutritious food, particularly in remote or economically disadvantaged areas, is essential. This could involve initiatives such as creating community gardens, improving market access, or providing transportation subsidies to reach markets with a wider variety of foods.

Community-led nutrition initiatives in rural India can boost diet diversity, empower women, says study

For Saumya Bhatnagar, being the only woman in a room is far from a novel experience. An engineer by training and currently the co-founder and chief product officer at AI sales rep startup Jeeva, she remembers being the sole girl in her high school's 170-person <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/5-tips-women-career-coding-twilio-2020-8">coding class</a> — and that none of her male peers would sit next to her."I had to make space for myself, and there were plenty of micro and macro aggressions in the grand scheme of things that I had to talk my way through," she told Business Insider. "At the end of the day, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/women-left-out-of-the-ai-investment-boom-risks-bias-2023-10">it's a man's world</a> in the VC, startups, and AI space."Bhatnagar isn't alone in her journey. Although the number of women-founded startups has increased, less than 3% of venture capital funding went to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/venture-capital-decline-hurts-female-founders-gender-gap-startup-funding-2023-12">female-only founding teams</a> in 2022, according to PitchBook.A handful of women who are well-known as leaders in the AI space — including "Godmother of AI" <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vcs-like-khosla-and-a16z-backing-robotics-that-use-ai-2024-7">Fei Fei Li</a>, Anthropic president and co-founder Daniela Amodei, and OpenAI's former chief technology officer Mira Murati. But others building startups report facing various gender-related obstacles to success, including bias in the fundraising process, limited mentorship opportunities, and difficulty building meaningful business relationships with men.In the AI sector specifically, which has surged in popularity since the release of ChatGPT two years ago, the challenges for female founders are even more pronounced. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-18-women-who-made-partner-vc-firms-in-2023-2023-11">AI continues to attract significant VC interest</a>, but women in the space face additional barriers compared to their male counterparts, starting at the education level.While a degree in engineering or computer science isn't a requirement for launching an AI company, it's often a prerequisite for techies building foundational models to tackle complex machine-learning problems. Women accounted for just 22% of AI and computer science PhD programs in the US in 2019, according to a Deloitte study.Women in 2020 made up an estimated 26% of data and AI positions in the workforce, per a World Economic Forum report. And <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uktech.news/diversity/ai-funding-women-founders-20240319">recent data from the UK </a>shows that only about 4% of AI startups in the country have women founders.Although Bhatnagar is among the small group of women in the space with advanced technical chops, she says she still notices the gender imbalance in the AI world — and that it, at times, has led to her feeling impostor syndrome and burnout.Developing relationships with other women working in the AI space has become a vital lifeline, she said. An active member of online and in-person groups, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.womenandai.com/">Women and AI</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://thewomenweadmire.com/">Women We Admire</a>, Bhatnagar said that she's made connections that support her in navigating difficult business dynamics, connecting with female investors, and finding solace in shared experiences."Women are not comfortable asking for help, and there's this idea that perfectionism needs to be showcased at all times," she said. "Finding a community of women has helped me take risks and realize that I'm actually doing okay," she said.Vivien Ho, a partner at early-stage fund Pear VC, has watched the meteoric rise of buzzy AI startups during the last two years and noticed that many are run by men, she said. But as a longtime community builder in the Bay Area tech scene, this didn't jive with what she was seeing on the ground. There were plenty of women interested in building AI companies, she said. Many just didn't know how to start.This observation was the catalyst for the Female Founder Circles, a community for women engineers interested in building AI startups. Each FFC cycle welcomes a cohort of around 50 women for two months of programming that includes fireside chats with existing female AI founders, company-building workshops with Pear investment partners, and other in-person events designed to help women build meaningful relationships with one another, such as pitch competitions, spa days, and public speaking practice.Demand for FFC has exploded, Ho said, with more than 500 women applying for the most recent cohort that kicked off last month. And the program has already been a success: more than 70% of participants end up incorporating their startups, and at least five women have matched with another female co-founder in their cohort, she said."Three of our FFC founders have already raised Series Bs, which is pretty incredible," Ho told BI. "We first meet them, and they're really shy, and then three years later, they're running a 100-person company and making eight figures. It's incredible to see how we can build a community that makes a difference."As women in AI create opportunities that could help them succeed, their work parallels women in another once-white-hot subsector of the startup world: at the height of the crypto craze, female-led blockchain startups earned about 6.4% of venture dollars in the third quarter of 2022, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bitget.com/blog/articles/bitget-report-the-gender-gap-in-blockchain-startup-funding-press-release">according to data from Bitget</a>.Funding in the space has dropped off dramatically during the last two years, and women continue to struggle when it comes to connecting with investors and closing rounds, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/08/29/what-web3-data-reveals-about-gender-inequality-in-the-crypto-industry/">Forbes recently reported</a>.For Shreya Rajpal, Pear VC's FFC was one of the first times she felt genuine, positive support from the people around her. As a software engineer who cut her teeth in startups and on Apple's machine learning initiatives, she was accustomed to being the only woman whose work was judged with more scrutiny than that of her male coworkers."There are a lot of men who aren't very supportive, and being the only woman on a team means that they're often an undue level of attention on your work, so you stand out, for better or for worse," Rejpal told BI. "Pretty early on, it was obvious that I kind of needed to justify my space in the room a lot more compared to other folks."Fast forward to today, and Rajpal is the CEO and co-founder of Guardrails AI, which builds risk and reliability systems for generative AI programs. As she's progressed in her career, she's made an effort to build community with other women in tech. It's work that takes significant time, but it's been "life changing" in terms of succeeding as a founder and well worth the effort, she said.Guardrails earlier this year raised a $7.5 million seed funding round led by Zetta Venture Partners with participation from Pear, Bloomberg Beta, and GitHub Fund.In addition to participating in bigger groups like FFC, Rajpal has sought out mentorship opportunities with other women in engineering, machine learning, and project management."I became friends with a woman who is five to six years older than me and in the industry for that much longer, doing the things that I wanted to do," she said. "Hearing from her and what worked for her, in terms of changing jobs and talking to her about how she made those decisions, was the stuff that ended up being really impactful for me."Stephanie Guo, a partner at Sapphire Ventures based in San Francisco, is constantly iterating on community events for women interested in AI that strike the right balance between informational – think fireside chats and panel discussions – and informal ways for women to form connections that turn into mentor relationships.These events aren't just for would-be founders: Guo says that while the number of female-funded AI startups can sometimes seem "abysmally small," she's encouraged by the number of women who hold leadership positions at AI startups, funds, and bigger companies."We're creating both the space to have dialogue, but also a networking opportunity," Guo told BI. "These relationships stick, and there are business opportunities that actually form from them."

For women building AI startups, finding community has been the key to success

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Georgia's basic income pilot helped low-income Black women afford bills and pay down debt. </li><li>The program gave participants monthly cash payments — amounting to $20,400 over two years.</li></ul>When Shamarra Woods first started receiving basic income, she was able to buy clothes, diapers, and formula for her newborn baby. As her daughter grew into a toddler, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/basic-income-gbi-ubi-low-income-americans-afford-housing-food-2024-5">no-strings cash payments</a> helped Woods pay for day care.Woods, 31, lives in Atlanta and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chicago-basic-income-helped-mother-rent-an-apartment-ubi-gbi2024-5">is a single mom</a>. She's also a participant in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/georgia-basic-income-program-low-income-black-women-debt-bills-2024-3">Georgia's guaranteed basic income pilot</a> called In Her Hands. Launched in 2022 by nonprofits The Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund and GiveDirectly, the program gave 650 low-income Black women monthly payments for two years to spend as they choose. Funding came from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/basic-income-funding-comes-from-philanthropy-federal-budget-housing-taxes2024-4">foundations and philanthropic donors</a>."Single mothers — and women out there trying to make it or get themselves in a better situation — they don't have the support they need," Woods told Business Insider. "This income helps with that."Participants were based in communities across the state: Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward, College Park, as well as Clay, Randolph, and Terrell counties. The women were put into a lottery and randomly divided into two groups — Group A received $850 a month for 24 months, while Group B received $4,300 during the first month of the program, then $700 a month for the following 23 months. All eligible participants had an annual household income below 200% of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/poverty-line-leaves-behind-low-income-americans-snap-medicare-wic-2024-6#:~:text=The%20current%20federal%20poverty%20line,up%2C%20it%20is%20too%20low.">federal poverty line</a>, which is $39,440 for a family of two.Woods was in Group B. She said <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/basic-income-kenya-helps-families-buy-food-savings-ubi-gbi-2024-6">the lump sum</a> helped her pay off outstanding bills, so she no longer has to weigh the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/middle-class-americans-earning-above-poverty-struggles-afford-food-medicine-2024-4">risk of losing her electricity in order to buy groceries</a>. Woods was also promoted at her job, an accomplishment she said was possible because she could <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/childcare-too-expensive-unaffordable-2024-3">afford steady childcare</a> through the pilot program.However, she's anxious about continuing to support herself without basic income — she received her final payment in May. Woods is hopeful she and her daughter can stay in Atlanta to build her career, instead of having to move back to her hometown in Mississippi."My hope is to figure something out where I can put us in a better situation and she can grow up living a better life than I did," she said.Georgia's program is one of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/denver-basic-income-reduces-homelessness-food-insecurity-housing-ubi-gbi-2024-6">over 100 basic-income pilots</a> that have been tried across the US. The no-strings cash typically offers low-income Americans $50 to $2,000 a month for a set period of time to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/immigrants-new-mexico-basic-income-for-housing-healthcare-ubi-gbi2024-5">help them pay</a> for rent, food, healthcare, transportation, or other basic needs.In May, The Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund — a nonprofit focused on racial equity and poverty solutions — <a target="_blank" href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/63851cf7347e214d6ab98e66/t/6638c93ecb58e23b21d82b20/1714997571237/IHH+Year+One+Evaluation+Summary.pdf">released a report</a> on the pilot's first-year impacts. Based on surveys and interviews, researchers compared participants with about 2,000 other low-income women in Georgia who were not selected to receive payments in the lottery but met the criteria for the program.Compared to non-participants, women receiving basic income were more able to afford bills and pay down debt.<h2 id="52d86d3d-9dd9-4733-899f-b0cca1498531">Georgia GBI participants felt more financially stable and housing secure</h2>The goal of the Georgia pilot was to support Black women experiencing financial insecurity and experiment with basic income as an economic policy, per the one-year report.From a financial standpoint, women receiving basic income were less likely than non-participants to skip phone and utility payments, overdraft their bank accounts, or be behind on credit card and loan payments.And, with less cost pressure, participants were better able to access medical care — and less likely to experience mental health challenges like anxiety or depression.Additionally, the number of participants experiencing home evictions and utility shut-offs in 2022 was lower than non-participants. Women receiving basic income were more housing stable, made on-time rent payments, and had <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/snap-alice-food-stamps-hunger-government-assitance-free-meals-2024-5">access to healthy food</a>.What's more, participants were 60% more likely to be <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bay-area-marin-county-basic-income-housing-food-ubi-gbi-2024-6">enrolled in higher education</a>. Some participants said GBI allowed them to get degrees, management training certifications, or LLC licenses for their businesses.Mothers enrolled in the pilot reported the ability to save for their children's education at a rate 13% higher than those outside the program. Many parents also spent some of their basic income on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/san-antonio-ubi-guaranteed-basic-income-pay-housing-expenses-work-2024-3">activities for their children</a>, like summer camp or cheerleading dues.To be sure, Georgia's program results reflect the short-term impacts of cash payments on participants. It's not yet clear if basic income will affect the participants' long-term housing or financial security now that payments have concluded, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/basic-income-opposition-discriminatory-universal-basic-income-argument-2024-4">not all economic experts or policymakers agree</a> that GBI is a sustainable policy solution. The data is also based on participant's self-reported experiences.The final In Her Hands report — with results from the second year of the program — will be available at the end of 2024.<h2 id="fcb594ea-83f6-4325-9b7c-560e5abb4398">As basic income faces opposition, Georgia plans to continue programs</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stlouis-basic-income-lawsuit-shut-down-pilot-unconstitutional-ubi-gbi-2024-6">Lawsuits</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guaranteed-basic-income-ban-ubi-arizona-texas-houston-homelessness-poverty-2024-2">Republican-led bans</a> are challenging basic income programs across the US, with some <a target="_blank" href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-11-28/backlash-to-affirmative-action-hits-pioneering-maternal-health-program-for-black-women">aimed at women of color</a>.A basic income program providing $1,000 a month to pregnant Black women in San Francisco <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ebar.com/story.php?ch=news&amp;sc=news&amp;id=330159">was sued last year</a>. In an effort to halt the program, a conservative public interest firm alleged that the city's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guaranteed-basic-income-houston-residents-afford-rent-groceries-housing-2024-4">use of public money</a> for cash payments was unlawful because the pilot selected participants on a "<a target="_blank" href="https://media.graphassets.com/02LNdMEySkSAdFz88cqC">racially exclusionary basis</a>."Still, The Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund and GiveDirectly plan to continue providing cash assistance to low-income women in Georgia.In fact, a second phase of the In Her Hands program began in May. The additional pilot provides cash aid to about 270 Black women in Atlanta's English Avenue, Vine City, Bankhead, and Washington Park neighborhoods. Participants could choose between two basic income structures: either $1,000 a month for three years or $800 a month for three years with a lump sum payout of $8,000 at the time of the participant's choosing.The Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund is also planning to launch a "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-baby-bonds-how-they-eliminate-student-loan-debt-2022-12">baby bonds</a>" pilot in early 2025, a six-year program that would give 250 babies in Georgia's Black communities a trust account of $40,000, and provide their families with $500 a month in basic income. Like a similar baby bond program <a target="_blank" href="https://ctmirror.org/2024/01/17/ct-baby-bonds-experiment/">in Connecticut</a>, the pilot seeks to combat infant and childhood poverty.Even with an uncertain future, Woods said Georgia's GBI pilot helped her learn how to manage finances for her family."I really wanted that for my daughter," Woods said. "I wanted to build a really good foundation — put her in good schools and really invest in her education. I still want that."Have you benefited from a guaranteed basic income program? Are you open to sharing how you spent the money? If so, reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:allisonkelly@businessinsider.com">allisonkelly@businessinsider.com</a>.

Georgia gave low-income Black women $20,000 over 2 years. A participant said the money helped her afford day care and pay bills.

Nalin Bansal, Chief Relationship Management at the National <keyword id="20242630" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="payments" source="keywords">Payments</keyword> Corporation of India (<keyword id="19998946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NPCI" source="keywords">NPCI</keyword>), speaking at the Global Fintech Festival 2024 on Wednesday, emphasized that only 25 per cent of payment users are <keyword id="19900675" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="women" source="keywords">women</keyword>, with even lower penetration in semi-urban and rural areas. "While we've achieved significant scale in <keyword id="20377974" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-inclusion" source="keywords">financial inclusion</keyword>, penetration remains a challenge, with only 25% of payment users being women, and even fewer in semi-urban and rural areas. Many women's mobile numbers are not linked to their bank accounts, hindering their participation," Bansal said. He added, "Yet, data shows women are 50% less prone to fraud and are highly loyal and engaged users. As an ecosystem, we must prioritize personalized, assisted services and continuous engagement across all channels. UPI123 has made strides, especially for initiatives like Ujjwala, and prepaid instruments hold promise as a 'secret purse' for women. Building trust is crucial, and it is our collective responsibility to foster it." Women are more likely to adopt <keyword id="20853683" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="digital-financial-services" source="keywords">digital financial services</keyword> when introduced by local agents or <keyword id="22950816" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="community-influencers" source="keywords">community influencers</keyword>, particularly women who can help them overcome social and technological barriers. Women who make at least five <keyword id="19971375" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="transactions" source="keywords">transactions</keyword> in the first week of onboarding are twice as likely to continue using <keyword id="19900911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPI" source="keywords">UPI</keyword>. This highlights the need for financial service providers to rethink in-app nudges and sales metrics to encourage consistent usage. 93 per cent of women surveyed expressed the need for ongoing support during the first three months of using digital payments, particularly for grievance redressal during failed transactions. Kalpana Ajayan, Regional Head - South Asia, Women's World Banking, said, "We recognize that digital payments can serve as a powerful tool for women, enabling them to manage their finances more effectively, access a broader range of services, and ultimately secure a better future for themselves and their families." She added, "By addressing the specific barriers that women face in adopting digital payments, we open up a new frontier for growth. This initiative is about much more than inclusion--it's about positioning women as key drivers in the digital financial ecosystem." The NPCI's UPI platform has already revolutionized India's payment landscape, with UPI transactions soaring from Rs 920 million (USD 11.08 million) in FY 2017-18 to Rs 83750 million (USD 1.01 billion) in FY 2022-23, reflecting a staggering CAGR of 147 per cent. The value of UPI transactions reached INR 80.79 trillion (USD 96,287) across approximately 55.66 billion transactions in the first four months of FY 2024-25. Of the 536 million women aged 15 years and older in India, 37 per cent report using mobile internet, making the addressable market for UPI solutions among women around 200 million strong.

Women are more likely to adopt digital financial services when introduced by local agents or women community influencers

Excess <keyword id="6373166" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fat" source="Orion">fat</keyword> around the abdomen is related to more chances of experiencing widespread <keyword id="33229" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="chronic-pain" source="Orion">chronic pain</keyword>, especially in <keyword id="624" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="women" source="Orion">women</keyword>, according to a study. In over 32,000 participants from the UK Biobank dataset, researchers found that women having fat surrounding their abdominal organ, called 'visceral adipose tissue', were twice as likely to experience chronic <keyword id="27332" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pain" source="Orion">pain</keyword> at multiple points in their body. About half the participants were women, aged 55 years on average. Chronic pain is a condition in which pain persists beyond the immediate healing period, following an injury or trauma. It can sometimes be widespread, felt in more than one part of the body. The researchers, including those from the <keyword id="21703969" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="university-of-tasmania" source="keywords">University of Tasmania</keyword>, Australia, also found that women having higher levels of 'subcutaneous adipose tissue', or the fat right under the skin that can be pinched, were at a 60% increased chance of having widespread chronic pain. The findings are published in the journal <keyword id="23125738" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="regional-anesthesia" source="keywords">Regional Anesthesia</keyword> and Pain Medicine. While excess fat in <keyword id="6364492" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="obesity" source="Orion">obesity</keyword> is known to be linked to pain in the muscles and bones, researchers said that the relationship between excess visceral and subcutaneous and widespread chronic pain has not been studied. Among the men studied, those having higher levels of visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue were found to be at a 34% and a 39% higher chance of having widespread chronic pain, respectively. The stronger links between fat and chronic pain in women could be a result of how differently fat is distributed compared to men, along with hormonal differences. The researchers advised that addressing abdominal fat could help reduce chronic pain, particularly if it is widespread. For the study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the abdomen were used for measuring both the types of fat -- visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. The participants also underwent pain assessments, in which they were asked if they had experienced pain in their neck or shoulder, back, hip, knee or 'all over the body' for more than three months. The scans and evaluations were repeated after two years for a smaller group of 638 participants. Being an observational study, the authors could not establish cause-and-effect links. They also acknowledged the study's limitations, including the comparatively smaller size of the participants' sample undergoing repeat tests, and not measuring the severity of pain. "Abdominal adipose tissue was associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain, suggesting that excessive and ectopic (abnormal) fat depositions may be involved in the pathogenesis of multisite and widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain," the authors wrote.

Excess abdominal fat linked to widespread chronic pain in women, study finds

A <keyword id="20558223" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="blood-test" source="keywords">blood test</keyword> measuring two specific fats, along with <keyword id="20100635" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflammation" source="keywords">inflammation</keyword>, could help predict a woman's risk of developing heart conditions in the next 30 years, according to a study of nearly 28,000 women in the US. The two fats in one's blood sample that the test measured were LDL, or 'bad' <keyword id="19898368" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cholesterol" source="keywords">cholesterol</keyword>, and lipoprotein(a), which is partly made of LDL. Inflammation was measured by detecting levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive proteins. When the three measures -- inflammation, cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) -- of a woman's blood sample were analysed together, researchers found that women having the highest levels were 2.6 times more likely to have a major adverse <keyword id="23010849" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cardiovascular-event" source="keywords">cardiovascular event</keyword>, including a heart attack. The link was found to be even stronger for stroke -- women with the most elevated levels were 3.7 times more likely to experience a stroke over the next 30 years, the team of researchers, including those from Brigham and Women's Hospital, US, said. They added that the three measures can better predict the risk of major cardiovascular events over the next three decades than measuring only one. The findings were published in the <keyword id="20060225" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-England-Journal-of-Medicine" source="keywords">New England Journal of Medicine</keyword>. "We can't treat what we don't measure, and we hope these findings move the field closer to identifying even earlier ways to detect and prevent heart disease," author Paul M Ridker, Brigham and Women's Hospital, said. For the study, the researchers analysed blood samples and medical information from 27,939 healthcare providers living in the US, who participated in the <keyword id="23010850" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Womens-Health-Study" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Women's Health Study" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Women's Health Study">Women's Health Study</keyword>. The women were on average aged 55 at the study's start (1992-1995) and followed for 30 years. Over the study period, about 3,660 of the women experienced a major cardiovascular event for the first time, including a heart attack, stroke, or death due to related reasons. Assessing cardiovascular risk individually due to each of the three measures, the researchers found that the women having the highest levels of inflammation had a 70 % higher chance of a major cardiovascular event. The women with the highest levels of 'bad' cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) were found to be at a 36 % and 33 % higher chance, respectively, of developing heart-related conditions. While only women were studied for this research, the researchers expect to find similar results in men, they said. Studies in recent years have shown how high levels of inflammation can interact with fats to compound heart disease risks, which helps explain why lower levels are better, according to the researchers. They explained that immune cells, which help the body repair wounds or infection, can also sense the accumulation of extra cholesterol in cells or become active in response to the build-up of plaque and send out inflammatory signals. This creates a hyper-inflammatory environment where plaque can form, become larger, or even rupture -- and cause cardiovascular events, the authors said. Through a combination of lifestyle changes and drug therapy, the researchers said that each of the three risk factors can be addressed. Studies have shown that lowering cholesterol and inflammation both significantly reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, they said. The new data strongly supports earlier and more aggressive use of targeted preventive interventions, particularly among women for whom cardiovascular disease remains under-diagnosed and under-treated, the researchers said.

Fats in blood, with inflammation, could better predict heart disease risk in women, study finds

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Birmingham's guaranteed basic income program gave 110 single mothers $375 a month.</li><li>The program aimed to alleviate poverty for single mothers and help them afford bills and childcare.</li></ul>Birmingham, Alabama's guaranteed basic income program was the support some single mothers needed to get by."I can work knowing that she's safe, she's cared for, and when I get off she's happy to see me," one participant, who was able to keep a full-time job because she spent basic income on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/childcare-too-expensive-unaffordable-2024-3">day care</a> for her preschooler, told program researchers.The Embrace Mothers pilot gave 110 moms $375 a month from March 2022 through February 2023. Participants told researchers that the money allowed them to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/basic-income-parents-afford-childcare-get-stable-jobs-gbi-ubi-2024-8">pay for childcare</a>, maintain stable work, and cover household expenses, according to the pilot's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/64f8b31cbb263222a1487bd6/t/66b259743f93ea0c56cd88fe/1722964353521/Birmingham_MGI+Report+Final.pdf">final report</a> that was published on August 12.The cash payments also helped moms <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/basic-income-mothers-afford-maternity-leave-baby-supplies-ubi-2024-8">spend more time with their children</a>, and some said they took their family to Christmas dinner, purchased toddler toys at Dollar Tree, or bought a package of cupcakes to celebrate their child's birthday.Embrace Mothers is one of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/basic-income-gbi-ubi-low-income-americans-afford-housing-food-2024-5">over 100 guaranteed basic income pilots</a> across America, and one of many <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pomona-basic-income-helps-new-parents-baby-parenting-gbi-ubi-2024-7">focused on families</a>. The model — which is an approach to poverty reduction — gives participants money for a set period of time, no strings attached.The program was a partnership between the city, the advocacy network Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, and several foundations. It had no income requirement, but the majority of participants were low-income, according to the report. All final report findings are based on participant spending surveys and interviews.But, for the majority of Birmingham participants, the positive impacts of cash payments didn't last. Most mothers reported sliding back financially in the months after the program ended: again falling behind on bills and struggling to afford childcare."This was a great year, but now what?" another participant told researchers.<h2 id="672bb3ec-99e3-433f-8358-23395a91a2d3">Single moms used basic income to pay bills and afford childcare</h2><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.birminghamal.gov/2022/01/18/applications-for-guaranteed-income-for-birmingham-single-mothers-soon-to-open/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CSingle%2Dmother%20led%20families%20represent,that%20has%20been%20very%20unsteady.">About half</a> of all households with children in Birmingham have single mothers as their main household income earner, according to the Embrace Mothers' report. Leaders of the program said their goal was to alleviate the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-economic-status-of-single-mothers/">heightened impact of poverty</a> on single mothers, especially among Black and Hispanic women.Researchers surveyed all participants every six months throughout the program about their spending and GBI experience. They also interviewed participants six months after the program concluded. The 110 participants were compared to a group of 132 single mothers in Birmingham who also met the program's criteria but were not chosen to receive payments.Prior to Embrace Mothers, the majority of participants reported being <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/snap-alice-food-stamps-hunger-government-assitance-free-meals-2024-5">food insecure</a> and enrolled in government assistance — despite 73% being employed or a full-time caregiver. Nearly 80% of participants were behind on paying for their utilities, like electricity or heat.While receiving $375 monthly, many participants reported better financial health than control group members, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/universal-basic-income-emergency-cash-rent-homes-government-housing-aid-2024-1">lower utility bill debt</a> and a higher ability to cover a $400 emergency expense. Mothers in the labor force also said they could better afford consistent childcare, allowing them to maintain jobs, improve work attendance, and work more stable hours compared to the control group. This also allowed some parents to spend more time with their children."These women are the engine of our economy, getting up every day to do what's necessary to provide the best they can for their children," Randall L. Woodfin, the mayor of Birmingham, said in a press statement. "They're already experts in making a little stretch a long way, Embrace Mothers proves that even a modest guaranteed income can help them overcome the barriers of poverty."Still, participants only received guaranteed income for one year. Researchers said the short-term cash did not have a statistically significant effect on participants' <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-basic-income-study-results-2024-7">psychological and physical health</a>, food security, education enrollment, and housing outcomes between the beginning and end of the program.<h2 id="cb6383d4-e37c-4ba4-acfa-2518ffa47f8a">Experts say basic income is 'critical help' even if pilots are temporary </h2>When researchers surveyed participants six months after Embrace Mothers ended, the majority felt their financial gains had vanished.While participants experienced stronger savings, fewer gaps in childcare, and lower debt than the control group during the program, both groups had similar levels of debt, childcare issues, and financial stress in the months after Embrace Mothers' conclusion. This data suggests that participants were not able to maintain their positive lifestyle changes, researchers said, and many of the mothers reported feeling "hopeless" when their payments ended."At the end of the pilot and beyond, participants reported less hope for the future and less sense of mattering than their control group counterparts who had not received a guaranteed income," researchers wrote. "That is, while receiving the money was helpful, losing it may have hurt more."To be sure, Embrace Mothers was a short-term program, and more research is needed to understand how cash payments could impact participants in the long run. Researchers said <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/poverty-line-leaves-behind-low-income-americans-snap-medicare-wic-2024-6">other systemic barriers</a> faced by participants — like high housing costs, a weak social safety net, low wages, and limited job opportunities — could have hindered the impacts of guaranteed income on their finances over time.Researchers added that future GBI pilots might see success with longer runtimes, larger payments, and more robust financial counseling and support for participants at the end of the program.The Birmingham Mayor's Office also told BI in a statement that some of the benefits of GBI for families "were highly individualized and more difficult to capture quantitatively." For instance, many parents were able to spend more time with their children and create positive memories — but improved childhood happiness can be challenging for researchers to quantify in a dataset.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/saint-paul-minnesota-basic-income-pilot-500-stipend-2020-9">Melvin Carter</a>, the mayor of St. Paul, is a member of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, the organization that supported Birmingham's pilot. He told BI that the Embrace Mothers results show that many of America's families still need economic support — alongside the agency to manage their own money."That was critical help that they still need," Carter said. "The problem isn't that we helped families. The problem is that we need to help families more."Have you benefited from a guaranteed basic income program? Are you open to sharing how you spent the money? If so, reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" class="" href="mailto: allisonkelly@businessinsider.com">allisonkelly@businessinsider.com</a>.

Birmingham gave single mothers $375 monthly for a year, no strings attached. Participants felt more financially stable, but 'losing the money hurt.'

Ashlee Wisdom left a toxic workplace environment after developing chronic hives.At the time, Wisdom was also getting her master's in public health at New York University, where she was learning about how social and political factors can affect specific groups' health.These experiences led her to build Health In Her HUE, a digital health platform that connects women of color to medical providers committed to serving their health needs."I had my own experience of seeing how racism impacts your health, and I saw all of this innovation happening in healthcare, but I didn't see anyone at that time building anything that addressed the specific pain points that Black women and women of color tend to have when they are navigating the healthcare system," Wisdom told Business Insider.Health In Her HUE is part of a surge in femtech, or technology companies that aim to support women's health and wellness. A report published last year by a consulting company called FemHealth Insights found that the sector was rapidly growing, with over 60% of femtech companies founded from 2017 to 2022.Historically, women's healthcare has been impaired by challenges like bias and a lack of specialized providers. But femtech offers a new way forward — one where connecting with a doctor doesn't require an in-person appointment and female founders are creating digital spaces that mirror the care they want to receive.<h2>Connectivity to close the women's health gap</h2>Increased access to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/5g-advanced-standalone-6g-qualcomm-huawei-mwc-2024-3">high-speed internet</a>, the expansion of telemedicine, and demand for women-centric healthcare are some factors behind the recent support for femtech platforms and apps."In 2020, because we were left with no alternative, there was a massive increase in online services, which created a culture shift for providers and clients," said Smisha Agarwal, the executive director of the Center for Global Digital Health Innovation at Johns Hopkins University.As a result, the US healthcare sector became less resistant to remote tools like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teledermatology-future-of-skincare-musely-ceo-jack-jia-2024-6">telehealth</a> and medical apps, and patients realized they enjoyed the relative privacy of talking with a provider in their home rather than at a clinic. "These tools can change the power dynamic in a clinical relationship," Agarwal said.Health In Her HUE says nearly 14,000 women have accounts and use the website to access medical information tailored specifically to women of color; virtual peer-support groups; and medical professionals who deliver healthcare in a way that meets patients' social, cultural, and linguistic needs.Black women often confront <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/women-crossing-state-lines-give-birth-black-maternal-mortality-crisis-2023-9">greater difficulties</a> in accessing affordable and quality healthcare, are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8020496/">disproportionately burdened</a> by chronic conditions, and are more likely to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-doctors-and-community-groups-are-promoting-health-equity-2023-11">experience discrimination</a> in medical settings. "I wanted to build a platform that helps Black women, and women of color more broadly, navigate healthcare and a system that is too often precarious for us," Wisdom said.<div type="image" title="A headshot of Ashlee Wisdom on a tan background." height="810" width="1080" msid="113135183" hostid="261" sizebytes="46492"></div>Through the platform, users can look up providers by the insurance they take, their specialties, and their ZIP code, and then meet with them in person or virtually, depending on the provider.In the beginning, Wisdom reached out to providers who seemed aligned with her mission and asked if they would participate in the project. Now providers looking to join can make an account, and once they commit to the company's health-equity pledge, they're added to the directory.Wisdom said one Health In Her HUE user who felt that other doctors had ignored her symptoms got a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome after meeting with a Health In Her HUE provider. Another told Wisdom that she drove three hours to meet with a gastroenterologist she found in the directory; she felt that "if a Black GI doctor saw her, they would take her symptoms more seriously," Wisdom said.For years, healthcare systems weren't <a target="_blank" href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/women-health-gap-davos-2023/">designed for women</a>, and there are still gaps in research and treatments for women's health issues. A study published in the Journal of Women's Health in 2021 found that funding from the US National Institutes of Health was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jwh.2020.8682">more likely to go toward conditions</a> that primarily affect men and less likely to go toward conditions that disproportionately affect women, like migraines and endometriosis.With this reality in mind, Joanna Strober cofounded Midi Health, a website designed to help people experiencing menopause and perimenopause access specialists. Described as a virtual care clinic, Midi Health allows people to make telehealth appointments with licensed nurse practitioners and doctors specializing in women's midlife health. Strober told BI she started the company after encountering barriers to finding menopause care."I also realized that the only way to scale this and give access to all women was to do it virtually," Strober said. "It's about connecting women to excellent care regardless of where they live."During a virtual appointment, patients can discuss perimenopause and menopause symptoms like hot flashes and brain fog. Interventions can range from lifestyle coaching to prescription medication, and Midi providers can refer patients to in-person treatments when needed. Some insurance plans cover care if the providers are in-network with PPO plans. Strober is focused on scaling insurance coverage so more women can use Midi.Strober said that as of August, about 100,000 women had used Midi in 2024. Most are between 40 and 50, and the average age is 46."It's growing really fast, and women are coming to us in increasing numbers for more issues than we originally expected," Strober said. She added that while Midi isn't intended to be a primary-care clinic, users' interest in speaking with providers about more than hormonal health demonstrates that "there are just not enough providers who are trained in women-centered care."Strober attributed an increased desire for digital platforms like Midi to improvements in telehealth technology and to women's demands for better care. The relative ease of virtual appointments is also a benefit.<h2>Investing in solutions</h2>A report by Silicon Valley Bank published last year said <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.svb.com/trends-insights/reports/womens-health-report/">venture-capital funding for women's health companies</a> had surged by 314% since 2018.But Strober believes that the industry has just taken off and that founders must convince investors that more money can be made. Midi Health is on its way toward doing that; the company closed a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/midi-health-raising-series-b-menopause-2024-1">$60 million Series B round</a> in April.Agarwal said that as more companies enter the healthcare industry, they'll need to consider patient needs beyond health, such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-hospitals-dont-have-policies-for-new-ai-tech-survey-2024-2">privacy</a>. She argued that minimizing data collection and communicating about data use are imperative."Digital solutions do not replace in-person services, but they are a brilliant addition to in-person care," Agarwal added.Wisdom acknowledged that virtual care isn't a cure-all and told BI that while Health In Her HUE's main goal is connecting women of color to culturally responsive clinicians, she hopes for a future where all providers offer that level of care."We don't want Black patients always to feel like they need to be seen by a Black healthcare provider," Wisdom said. "They should feel comfortable and confident knowing that any provider they engage with can provide them with high-quality care."But for now, Wisdom said, virtual care can be a path toward accessibility. Health In Her HUE raised <a target="_blank" href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/08/health-in-her-hue-closes-3-million-seed-round/">$3 million in a seed round</a> in January, and Wisdom and her team are hopeful about features they can build to create a space where users know they're getting accurate information from medical providers who understand their experiences. Wisdom and her team plan to create an app and possibly partner with a telehealth company to offer virtual appointments."It feels good to build a solution that's useful for my community," Wisdom said. "I'm glad my energy is being used for a mission that deeply resonates with me."

Women face bias and disparities in healthcare. Digital tools could help meet their needs.

In an effort to give a further boost to partnership, India, and the US signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (<keyword id="19914814" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MoU" source="keywords">MoU</keyword>), which will enable the Micro, Small and medium enterprises (<keyword id="19910977" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="MSMEs" source="keywords">MSMEs</keyword>) of the two countries to participate in <keyword id="19908188" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-markets" source="keywords">global markets</keyword> and foster trade. "<keyword id="20233690" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-US" source="keywords">India-US</keyword> joining hands to promote cooperation in MSMEs," the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, wrote on X. "Today, India-US signed a landmark MoU that enables MSMEs of the two countries to participate in global markets, drive innovation, foster trade, and support <keyword id="19930409" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="women-entrepreneurs" source="keywords">women entrepreneurs</keyword>," he added. S. C. L. Das, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Isabel Casillas Guzman, Administrator, <keyword id="21149255" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="small-business-administration" source="keywords">Small Business Administration</keyword> (SBA), United States of America, signed the MoU here in New Delhi. The MoU provides a framework for both sides to discuss issues concerning micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and explore possibilities for cooperation. It envisages the exchange of expertise between the two sides on issues related to improving MSME participation in the global marketplace through mutual visits as well as webinars and workshops on topics including access to trade and export finance, technology and digital trade; green economy, and trade facilitation. The MoU also provides for the joint conduct of programmes for women entrepreneurs to empower them and facilitate trade partnerships between women-owned small businesses in the two countries. Recognising the crucial role that MSMEs play in advancing <keyword id="20421749" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inclusive-growth" source="keywords">inclusive growth</keyword>, expanding exports, and boosting employment, the two sides also agreed to explore the development of a "Business Matching Digital Platform" to boost <keyword id="20035864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="business-opportunities" source="keywords">business opportunities</keyword>.

You Searched For "women participation" and got 10 results

Small businesses generated 35 million job applications till Aug 2024, 14 million were from women: Report

BI India Bureau

Community-led nutrition initiatives in rural India can boost diet diversity, empower women, says study

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For women building AI startups, finding community has been the key to success

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Georgia gave low-income Black women $20,000 over 2 years. A participant said the money helped her afford day care and pay bills.

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Women are more likely to adopt digital financial services when introduced by local agents or women community influencers

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Excess abdominal fat linked to widespread chronic pain in women, study finds

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Fats in blood, with inflammation, could better predict heart disease risk in women, study finds

PTI

Birmingham gave single mothers $375 monthly for a year, no strings attached. Participants felt more financially stable, but 'losing the money hurt.'

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Women face bias and disparities in healthcare. Digital tools could help meet their needs.

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India-US join hands to promote cooperation in MSMEs

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