AI for Informal Women Workers

Context

Artificial Intelligence for the benefit of informal women workers need gender-inclusive design, local language voice AI solutions, and targeted skill training. This is a key factor in India if it is to become the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047′ and inclusive growth. 

Context and Economic Significance

The baseline reality of informal labor

• Periodic labour data shows that almost 77% of rural women are engaged in agriculture and approximately 82% of the total labour force in India are engaged in informal sector. 
• Domestic work, home-based production, agriculture and micro-enterprises is dominated by women. 
• Unless intentional measures are taken to ensure that technology does not leave women behind, the erosion of the digital and economic divide is still possible. 

Early Proof of Potential

• The study revealed a positive impact on quality of life, with 61% of female users improving their situation within 45 days of using AI agricultural advice tools. 
• When tools were matching women’s local needs, the engagement rate was two to three times higher than men’s on these platforms. 

Key Opportunities for Empowerment

• Precision Agriculture: Providing real-time crop health, market price alerts, and input optimization to female farmers.
• Livelihood Expansion: Improving the access of home-based artisans and Self-Help Group (SHG) networks in the market through digital platforms.
• Financial Inclusion: Making credit and navigating welfare schemes easier through technological solutions. 

Major Challenges and Risks

• Digital Divide: Access is restricted due to gender digital divide (due to unequal ownership of a smartphone, to social norms that are restrictive, to low digital literacy).
• Algorithmic Bias: Unchecked models can reinforce existing gender and caste stereotypes rather than dismantle them.
• Digital Violence: Marginalised women users are at greater risk of being the victims of online violence and of having their grievances redressed quickly at the regional level. 

Steps for Inclusive AI

• Use BHASHa Interface for India (BHASHINI) and other national resources to provide voice-enabled advises in local languages. 
• Outcome Based Skilling (OBS) through SHG: Train women on the use of computer in practical interface rather than theoretical computing using community networks. 
• Gender-Responsive Governance: Embed it into the Governance of AI for India and follow up the recommendations of the National Commission for Women on safeguarding against cybercrime.

Source: The Hindu

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