Out of box 2.0

Indians were the first to launch most of the forward-looking visionary policies in social space. For example, national family planning program was launched as early as 1952. Similarly, first export promotion zone was set up in 1964. Be it universal health insurance or universal job guarantee scheme or the reservation to people at margins and periphery, we were the first one to take the initiatives. But somehow our plans did not work. Countries who picked up our ideas and executed well reaped huge dividends of such schemes. For example, Chinese SEZ or family planning initiatives came later than India's but took China to great heights. The reason for our failure is we could not execute the plans in details. It required some out of box execution strategies to achieve the desired goals. In this series, we will explore some out of box ideas for women upliftment and systemic improvement in India's architecture.

With respect to women upliftment:
1. We should integrate transgender community as a change agent. Transgenders come to each house to collect their donation whenever a wedding occurs. All the people around ask them to give their blessings to the new bride for a male child. Their blessings are considered very auspicious. So, if we can sensitize them to not just give blessings for a male child but also for a female child then it may help in changing people's orientation.
2. We should create jobs with 4 to 6 hours of working. This will help us in harnessing the potential of a large number of housewives and women who are restricted in houses. For example, phone based marketing, call center based jobs, women helplines etc.
3. We should launch an education van which should go to residential complexes and educate housewives about various issues like english education, skill sets, and other new productive skills.
4. A scheme for credit points for employers who employ women workers should be launched. Such employers could be given tax incentives for maintaining a minimum level of diversity in the workplace.
5. The issue of women empowerment and safety begin at home. Every person has sisters or daughters and mother at home towards whom he is always concerned and respectful. However, all such women often become victim of some or other abuse. If such women discuss the issue at home then it can sensitize the male members in serious manner.
6. Another idea is to shift companies to tier 2 towns so that more opportunity could be opened for women of smaller towns. Further to promote the entrepreneur skill set, provide the service based marketing, export, packaging skills to the home based products. This can bring greater change in the economic conditions of such women.
7. Lastly, we need to launch nukkad nataks, content in local languages and free whatsApp, Youtube and facebook data for women to connect with rest of the world.
8. The IGNOU model of education should be further promoted so that women of the country can chart her own trajectory in the society.