Gimme Some Sunshine!
Platforms and Informal Sector
As we celebrate Daughters’ Day , here is 3rd Episode of Aru’s podcast Tynkrring with XYZ where she talks about leveraging the power of technology especially internet to create a level playing field for all. We also discuss an interesting book by Sheryl Sandberg “Lean In“ and discuss the insights from latest romantic musical Cinderella produced by Sony Pictures.
“In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders.”
Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
“Here’s to strong women. May we know them.
May we be them. May we raise them.” – Anon
Towards the end of this newsletter, I have also shared interesting opportunities available with multiple organisation. You may want to explore them yourself or forward them to people who might benefit from it.
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DTW
During the Week, we saw iDay attracting leading Tech Entrepreneurs featuring Global Icons, Unicorn Founders & Leading Investors.This 10th Edition of iDay also called the India Internet Day (iDay) in virtual format is built around the theme ‘Digital India: Escape Velocity.
I would like to interpret platforms to be providing Escape Velocity for the informal sector workers to get out of their low-skill- low wage vicious cycle and shift orbit to a higher wage through better skills. I have discussed about the evolving relationship of work and platform as well as how platforms have been modifying the nature of work. The term frequently used is Gig Economy or Shared Economy or On-demand Work. I would use the terms interchangeably in this newsletter. I have spoken about Platform and Work in general and Platform and Passion. I have also explored Career choices and Work Life Balance in previous editions. Do check them out.
Young people coming through the vocational education channel and entering the informal sector would need special focus. According to multiple studies and position papers by UNICEF, school to work transition is not linear in informal sector, as young people may be studying while holding jobs, may go back to school after work, start off in irregular employment and then transition to regular employment etc
This space has attracted lot of attention in recent past. Non-academic EdTech FrontRow made headlines for raising 14 $ USD Series A within a year of starting their operations in 2020.
Apna, a professional networking platform for blue and grey collar workers, had raised $70 Mn in its Series B round led by Insight Partners and Tiger Global in June 2021 and have now raised another $100 Million from Tiger Global in September 2021. This new round has vaulted them to the youngest UNICORN status.
Platforms have served as formalisation and transformation agents for millions of workers in informal sector. Platforms like Betterplace have created solutions for corporates to manage blue collar workers right across hiring, managing and engaging them. They have also designed a collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) titled ASEEM (Aatamanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping ) which aims to map supply of skilled workforce with the market demand, thereby facilitating better livelihood opportunities. Platforms like Betterplace have created solutions for corporates to manage blue collar workers right across hiring, managing and engaging them. They have also designed a collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) titled ASEEM (Aatamanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping ) which aims to map supply of skilled workforce with the market demand, thereby facilitating better livelihood opportunities. Platforms like MyRojgaar, Majdoor etc have helped internal migrants in India find employment opportunities even during pandemic times.
To conclude, many of us have found true meaning of life through our work. Unfortunately, the going trend of gig workers has meant lesser opportunities to up-skill , potential of deskilling of jobs, and the reduction of employee involvement & empowerment in their work settings. Platforms have to solve the education-to-work transition of the informal sector workers through the lens of Wage, Welfare and Worth.
OTW
Over the Weekend, I dedicated my morning runs to the cause of Dementia and Alzeimers’s awareness campaign conducted by ARDSI- Hyderabad chapter. This Dementia Run was dedicated to the cause of Dementia in India. It will help to raise awareness and fight the stigma against Dementia in India. .It is estimated that there are about 5.9 million people with dementia in India (2021) and only 10% of them ever get a diagnosis, treatment or any care.Dementia is NOT normal ageing it is a disease that can happen to anyone! Eating a healthy, balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly are some of the main preventive factors of dementia. This awareness will further help people identify Dementia as a disease and get early diagnosis or care.
I was also part of the No Agenda Networking Meet on Saturday organised by good folks at HeadStart Hub CiE at IITH led by Anubhav Tiwari. The charm of the meet-up was meeting interesting folks from start-ups, incubators, corporates and academics face-to-face after almost 18 months.
The mood was upbeat and everybody was charged up to make the next move. It foretells an exciting time ahead and I surely made interesting connections both from start-ups as wells as corporate innovation verticals.
Get Fully Vaccinated ASAP. Hope to see you soon.
I Love You
Shailendra
OTM
Opportunities through MountainSpeak are available with Clear Skin and HairMD for fresh Management Trainees working with their corporate teams. Currently they are expanding and may go with Franchisee route so a lot of activities are going on - Setting up Processes, IT implementation (Zenoti), Sales, Marketing, Content creation, Video editing, HR Process development, Corporate Tie Ups for increasing reach amongst others. Please reach out to Abhijeet Patil for more information.
Swati Ponnala from AdGlobal360 has reached out for candidates for “Corporate Communication & Strategy Manager” role for Jaipur location. Please reach out to her for more information and next steps.