How has Digitalization in India helped Indian Housewives | Ways to make money online & Schemes for Women

In July 2015, the Indian Government launched the Digital India initiative. Since then, there has been a significant rise in digitalization in India and the adoption of digital technology in retail, education, healthcare, and corporates. Along with that, there has been a remarkable improvement in one more area – Financial freedom for Indian Housewives.

According to a study by Endurance-Zinnov (2019), about 4 million Indian housewives have emerged as resellers, particularly in lifestyle products, after digitalization. We have routinely heard of various success stories of Indian women, who have used digital platforms and technologies to sell their products and generate revenue. This shows that housewives can seek financial freedom and empower themselves by making effective use of digitalization.

How has Digitalization in India helped Indian Housewives?

• Digitalization has helped housewives emerge as resellers. They have used the power of e-commerce platforms and social media sites to sell their products.
• Along with that, digitalization has also helped women improve their skills by taking online courses and watching tutorial videos.
• Social media sites like Facebook and the convenience of creating a website or a blog has helped housewives follow their passion and showcase them to a larger audience. This, in turn, has enabled them to earn money through sales, advertisements, and promotions
• Remote jobs like data entry, teaching, contract-based jobs, and the gig economy enable housewives to work for a business at their preferred hours and without a long-term commitment. This has increased the number of working housewives.
• Digitalization has helped Indian housewives learn about healthcare and educate themselves on various issues using the Internet.

9 Real ways to make money from home

There are tons of ways through which Indian housewives can use digitalization to gain financial freedom and build a profitable business. Whether you want to be a reseller, open your own small business, work on a contract basis, or engage in affiliate marketing, digitalization enables you to do that while sitting in the comfort of your home.

Here are some proven and real ways to make money from home:

Sell Handmade Products through e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Snapdeal, etc.

Indian housewives skilled in creating handmade products, can register their account at an e-commerce platform like Snapdeal or Amazon, and sell their products online.

Nidhi Srivastava, a former IT professional, uses Facebook to share and sell her handmade clay products. What started as a hobby led to the creation of her page, Earthen Concepts.

Become a reseller

Platforms like Meesho allow women to become a reseller and enter into retailing. They don’t have to worry about inventory management and other cumbersome aspects of a business. Moreover, various other direct marketing companies also help women sell the products online.

Create your website and social media page to promote your products

Create your own website and social media page related to your passion and share information relevant to the topic. Once enough people start visiting your website or social media page, use advertisements, or affiliate marketing to generate income.

Tanya Mittal (Miss Tourism Asia 2018), age 23, earns up to 4-5 lakhs a month through her Instagram page HandMadeLove where she sells handmade products.

Image Source: Business Alligators

Use OLX to buy and sell used products

You can also buy and sell used products in platforms like OLX and become a verified seller. Yes, instead of letting go of old items at pennies, you can fix a price for the product and let people bid on it. Buying and selling in digital platforms are one of the real ways to make money from home.

Tutor students online

If you have the required qualifications, then you can try online teaching classes. You can tutor students based on your own timings.

Become a freelance writer

If you have good English writing skills, then you can try freelance writing and register in sites like Freelancer and Upwork.
With the Digital India initiative in action, an increasing number of content on the Internet is available in regional languages too. Hence, you can also become a freelance writer in your regional language.

Apply for Data Entry jobs

Indian housewives can also take up data entry jobs that allow them to work at their own schedule. They are paid on the basis of the work completed. Therefore, you can work as per your requirements.

Start delivering your home-made food

If you have an interest in cooking, then you can start a home-based food service and register your service at online platforms and deliver food where it is ordered.

Use WhatsApp Business for promotion

Use WhatsApp Business to promote and sell products and earn money through multi-level marketing.

DAE Corp, a menstrual hygiene brand selling eco-friendly menstrual cups, has connected with around 500-600 housewives from Vapi in Gujarat, and Daman & Diu, and Dadra Nagar Haveli regions, and distributes its products exclusively through WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp groups.

Along with these tips, there are various ways through which digitalization helps Indian housewives. However, Indian housewives should have the basic knowledge of the Internet and social media, to avail the benefits of digitalization.

Schemes and Initiatives for Indian Housewives | Digitalization in India

Mahila E-Haat

Image source: Sarkari Yojana Latest News

Mahila E-haat is a part of the Digital India initiative which aims to support NGOs, Self Help Groups, and women entrepreneurs by providing a direct online marketing platform where women can showcase and promote their products.
For registration, visit http://mahilaehaat-rmk.gov.in/en/join-us/

The Sangraha Foundation for Chikankari Artisans

Image Source- Milaap

Founded by Dr.Jaspal Kalra, the Sangraha Foundation conducts a four-month design training program for Chikankari Artisans. It connects them with potential buyers online. This helps the women improve their design as well as social-economic structure.

ArogyaSakhi

Image Source: The Better India

ArogyaSakhi is a mobile application that caters to rural women. The scheme aims to provide effective healthcare facilities to rural women. Rural women entrepreneurs visit the women at their homes, with mobile healthcare equipment, and conduct tests. They collect their data which is easily accessed and tested by doctors.

Internet Saathi

Digitalization has immense potential to empower women. Yet it won’t be able to make its impact if women’s Internet usage is low. Internet Saathi aims to improve Internet usage of rural women by equipping them with Internet skills.
Under this initiative, sites like HWGO have been actively helping women learn and use digital skills.

Women for Empowerment and Entrepreneurship (W2E2)

Image Source- Digital Empowerment Foundation

W2E2 helps Indian rural women learn about digital tools and various fields like sustainable farming, healthcare, and improve their skills. Through W2E2, women teach digital skills to rural women by setting up shops and centers across the villages.

Along with these schemes and initiatives, there are various types of low-interest loans that banks offer to women who want to start something of their own and venture into entrepreneurship. Through these aids, Digitalization in India aims to empower women to work and earn for themselves and their families.

Challenges of Digitalization in India

While digitalization in India has huge scope in improving the economic status of Indian housewives, there are still challenges that need to be addressed. In rural areas, most women don’t have the digital literacy required to avail of the benefits of digitalization. They need to be taught, given access to cell phones, and be provided with entrepreneurship opportunities. Once women gain the basic digital literacy needed, the potential to earn and empower themselves through a digital medium is endless.

Also Read: You should know how farmers are getting benefit from Digital India