In the news lately, six startup businesses led by women have triumphed in the Covid-19 Shri Shakti Challenge. This event was a joint venture between MyGov and UN WOMEN. MyGov operates as an inventive platform fostering a partnership between citizens and the government, utilizing technology to spur growth and development in India. As for UN Women, this agency represents the United Nations’ devotion to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Being a global advocate for women and girls, UN Women’s mission is to expedite progress on addressing their global needs.
About Covid-19 Shri Shakti Challenge
The Covid-19 Shri Shakti Challenge was jointly initiated by MyGov and UN Women in April 2020. The primary goal of the competition was to stimulate and incorporate startups led by women to contrive innovative solutions that could assist in combating Covid-19 or resolve issues that widely impact women.
Evaluation
The selection criteria for the challenge were based on the assessment of solutions proposed by the participating startups. These proposals were evaluated according to their innovation, usability, relevance, and the potential impact of their idea on society. After rigorous scrutiny, the top three entries were crowned as winners. Owing to the exceptional quality of the produced solutions, three additional entries were acknowledged as ‘Promising Solutions’.
Winners and Rewards
The rewards included a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakhs each for the top three winners. In addition to this, Rs. 2 lakhs each were awarded to the three startups singled out for their promising solutions.
This challenge stood as a testament to the power of women-led innovation in the face of crisis, demonstrating that when equipped with the right resources and opportunities, women entrepreneurs can create significant societal impact. It also highlighted the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives and solutions in our battle against global challenges like Covid-19.
The Role of MyGov and UN Women
MyGov’s partnership with UN Women in launching the Covid-19 Shri Shakti Challenge is a notable step in forging alliances between government bodies and international organizations for the welfare of women. MyGov, with its technological prowess, serves as an open platform that promotes citizen participation in governance, while UN Women, driven by its dedication to gender equality, advocates for women’s empowerment worldwide.
Together, these entities have provided a platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative solutions to widespread problems, thereby fostering a spirit of resilience and innovation among women.
The Covid-19 Shri Shakti Challenge stands not just as a competition but as a catalyst for change, encouraging women-led startups to use innovation as a tool for societal improvement. The success of this initiative reiterates the potential of women entrepreneurs in transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and development.
