Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai
Women from the margins gather at the centre of technology
As lockdown restrictions were implemented, businesses and educational institutions were shut down (or moved virtually). For the rural communities, the severity and intensity of the impact were far greater owing to their already marginalised socio-economic circumstances. As new working methods emerged, these women remained on the margins. Capgemini kickstarted efforts to bring these women into the waves of technology and empower them in the new normal of life.
Sakhi Drishtikon, which literally translates to “a vision of empowering women”, integrates those from the fringes of society into the mainstream workforce. With virtual becoming the new mode of work, technology synergised accessibility for those even from remote corners of the country, securing better employment opportunities with the right digital skills and training.
Sita Manukumar
Program Manager at CIS Capgemini
“The aim of Sakhi Drishtikone is to ensure that rural women are brought into the mainstream and given on-par training, much like any other engineering graduate who joins Capgemini. Once their training is over, they are put into projects involving cloud infrastructure services, cybersecurity, or any other data centre technologies. This initiative emerged during the peak of COVID-19 when the leadership felt it imperative to bring more women into the field of technology and that the best way to draw talent was by going beyond metros. By providing remote work facilities, to begin with, we were able to tap into capable talents from the villages and make them virtually comfortable as they slowly acclimatised into the office environment. The impact of this has been digital awareness, both for the individual and their family, as well as a change in their social status. In most cases, the Sakhi associate is the first one to break the boundaries and establish a career in the corporate world.”
By joining hands with the team at Cloud Infrastructure Services, EduBridge Learning and Anudip Foundation in the year 2020, Capgemini embarked on this unique mission of transforming the lives of literate rural women by empowering them to take charge of their own future through a career in technology. In their struggle to be heard, seen, and treated with respect and dignity, Sakhi Drishtikon has come as an answer, as a ray of hope, breaking societal barriers and helping them embrace their true potential.
During the initial months of the programme, Megha (name changed) started as a trainee with Capgemini, using a laptop to work from her father’s small grocery shop. Throughout the training, Sakhi Drishtikon instilled the confidence to progress in her career, helping her secure a full-time position with Capgemini and transition into the office environment. Her face beaming with joy and her words ringing with faith, she is filled with pride and contentment in having been able to play her role in sharing the expense of her wedding and, most importantly, in becoming an equal earning member in her household. What the programme offers her and many other women from similar backgrounds is mentoring on industry-relevant technical skills as well as 21st-century skills (such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving and digital literacy) that have become crucial in ensuring growth and success.
Monisha Banerjee
CEO at Anudip Foundation, NGO Partner
“After completing her training, Reshma (name changed) received a job offer at Hyderabad. This was a big upheaval for her and her community because, until then, girls from her village had never ventured outside, much less into another state. Her parents were apprehensive as everything about it was alien to them, the language, the place… But, with the confidence she had gathered through the program, she convinced her family members and the community that it was safe to take the opportunity and move out of her village. This was an act of breaking the glass ceiling, not just because of the fact that she had managed to do well in the program or that she had successfully cleared the interview and gotten into her dream organisation. She was (also) able to bring about a shift in the thinking and mindset of her parents as well as the community. Although her parents were anxious, they realised that they should not limit their daughter’s talents and achievements, which has encouraged the other families in the community to follow suit. As a result, she has become a role model for the younger girls in her community, motivating and exciting them to follow her path.”
Sakhi Drishtikon benefits from a rich and rewarding mentorship programme. The Sakhis are provided with one-on-one mentoring sessions that aid in their professional and personal development, ensuring their transition into the work culture is seamless and comfortable.
“Mentoring is a powerful tool that helps individuals to grow, develop and achieve their career aspirations. When I started mentoring Yasmin, a bright and talented young woman in our organisation, I was excited about the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with her. From our first meeting, I could tell that she was eager to learn and had a real passion for her work. As we continued to work together, I was impressed by her intelligence, creativity, and dedication to her job. She was constantly seeking feedback and asking questions, which showed her commitment to improving her skills. As her mentor, I felt proud to help her grow in her career. I shared my experiences, insights, and knowledge with her, and we worked together to develop her skills and build her confidence. As a mentor, I had to be patient, empathetic, and understanding. I had to be a good listener and communicate effectively to help her navigate the challenges of her role. Through our interactions, I learned how to be more compassionate, supportive, and collaborative. I also gained a deeper appreciation of the value of diversity, and I realised that we all have unique strengths and perspectives that we can bring to the table. Mentoring Yasmin has been an enriching and fulfilling experience for me, helping me evolve as a woman and a leader. It has allowed me to give back to the organisation and help a young woman achieve her career aspirations.”
Madhavi
Mentee at Sakhi Drishtikon, Capgemini India
“As a new employee at Capgemini, the Sakhi Drishtikon mentorship program has really helped me set career goals. My mentor and I share a really good bond, and I don’t hesitate to ask any doubts. I feel much more confident now. He has given me different ideas about how to handle the work when you are at your initial stage, which I have never thought of, and how we have to keep improving our skills. These monthly meetings with my mentor are simply amazing in helping shape my career journey, and for this, I will always be grateful.”
What marks the success of Capgemini’s Sakhi Drishtikon is how it is leading rural women towards a pathbreaking career in technology through which they are able to shape a better future for themselves and their families, ultimately enabling them not only in self-reliance and financial independence but also in uplifting and becoming models of change in their communities.
At the core of the Sakhi Drishtikon programme is the belief that in empowering women from the margins of society and in providing them with the right opportunities for learning and creating sustainable careers for themselves, they become impetuses of transformation in their families and communities, inspiring many others to break out from the barriers imposed by society and journey in the direction of progress and change.
The Sakhi associates have become beacons of hope, shining light into the remotest corners as their stories of perseverance and dreams trickle down into the hearts of the younger generation of women in their communities, who now eagerly await the time when they can chart their own path and embrace a future of their dreams.
Girish Singhania
Founder & CEO at EduBridge Learning
“The attitude within Capgemini has always been that of innovations and pilot programs, of trying something new which will benefit different sections of the society. Whatever the challenges that have come along, the approach has always been to sit together as one team and come up with a solution that works for our beneficiaries. This has strengthened our relationship so much over these years.”
The centres of the Sakhi Drishtikon programme are situated at Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai. Currently, the programme has successfully trained and inducted 900+ women from rural India into long-term careers in technology.
Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai
