According to Nasscom, women represent 36% of India’s tech workforce, but their numbers drop significantly at higher corporate levels. This highlights the critical role of AI education in addressing the gender gap. As technological advancements rapidly progress in India, efforts to empower women through AI education are gaining momentum, reshaping the future of the technology sector.
Sanjay Varma, Co-founder of Kalido and Diwakar Chittora, Founder and CEO, Intellipaat, sheds light on how they are aimed at narrowing the gender gap in AI education and propelling India towards becoming a global leader in AI innovation.
Varma told FE Education that they are running a programme called SAWiT.AI, the programme is designed to bridge the gender gap in AI education. “SAWiT.AI stands out as the world’s largest women-only Generative AI Learning Challenge. Its mission is to equip five lakh Indian women with foundational skills in AI, thereby addressing the significant educational gap that exists,” he said. “The initiative not only focuses on technical skills but also on the broader applications of AI, inspiring women from diverse backgrounds to view technology as an accessible and exciting career path,” he added.
On the other hand Chittora asserts, for accelerated economic growth, the key is to focus on upskilling both men and women with the latest skills. This approach not only enhances job opportunities but also increases average family income across the country. “Through workshops, mentorship programmes and online courses supported by various government initiatives, we aim to simplify complex technologies such as generative AI, machine learning, and data science, making them accessible to women from diverse backgrounds,” he said.
Adding to that “By equipping women with tech education, we seek to unlock their potential, foster innovation, and build a more inclusive tech industry,” Chittora said.
Experts from the education and technology sectors believe that women in India often encounter challenges such as socioeconomic divides, societal norms, limited mobility and resource constraints. “To address these issues, SAWiT.AI is designed to be entirely online, removing geographical barriers to participation. The programme offers online learning opportunities, extensive career development support and access to a network of mentors and industry leaders, tackling these challenges directly,” Varma explained.