MPowered programme in collaboration with Trickle Up aims to empower ultra-poor women who live on less than USD 1.25 (INR 91) per day from remote locations of Jharkhand and Odisha, by enhancing their livelihood through mobile technology and interventions that support sustainable livelihood development. Given the persistent gender gap in mobile phone usage in rural India, Tata Communications as an industry leader in telecommunications sought to bring instant access to information into the hands of 2,800 women about government schemes and provide training and other resources to strengthen their economic condition. In addition, a custom-made mobile app, Package of Practices (or PoP - a step-by-step guide in vernacular with modules on organic cultivation techniques of five crops) has enabled women to adopt better agricultural, livestock and business practices.
Target Beneficiaries
Ultra-poor tribal women
Geographies
Odisha (Sundargarh & Bolangir districts) & Jharkhand (West Singbhum & Pakur districts)
Impact
- The programme has reached over 47,800 individuals
- A Social Return on Investment (SROI) study established a social return of INR 6.7 for every INR 1 invested
- 79% of project participants successfully adopted better agricultural practices and business practices through consistent use of the PoP app
- 73% women are engaged in livelihood activities. The women have also experienced an increase of INR 6,148 in their annual income while 88% women observed an increase of INR 3,247 in annual savings
- Migration of families have reduced by 73%
- Increase in access to government schemes like Pro-Poor Inclusion Fund (PPIF), Vulnerability Reduction Fund (VRF) and MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act, an Indian labour law and social security measure that aims to guarantee the 'right to work') (social and financial security)
Other Initiatives in Education and Holistic Development
OKHAI & Cluster
Development
