Cafe Womaniya: Women-led Food & Snack Cafes and Kiosks in Government Offices

Café Womaniya, is “a food retail initiative to promote food & beverage products made exclusively by women entrepreneurs, at snack kiosks and dining areas in Government offices”. These cafés/ kiosks will deliver low-fat, nutrient-rich, cookies, crackers, Indian snacks/ meals, assorted pickles, condiments, tea/ coffee bags and organic food products, and foster consumption of fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts.

Hyper-local procurement of food and beverage products by Government offices will result in new and untapped economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Further, low-cost, high-volume, high-utility orders will ensure economies of scale for women enterprises, and ensure fresh foods at all times due to “Just-In-Time” inventory practices.

Most importantly, healthy meal choices at Café Womaniya will reduce intake of free sugars, and salt/ sodium, and limit energy intake from total fats, by shifting consumption of fat from saturated fats to unsaturated fats and eliminating use of trans-fatty acids; some of the primary drivers for early onset of non-communicable diseases such as Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease, in India.

PRESENT SCENARIO

Rising incomes, rapid urbanization, and globalization are influencing the nutritional consumption patterns of masses. Increased access to convenient foods from modern retailers at competitively low prices is further driving people to reach out for unhealthy foods [Popkin, Adair & Ng, 2012, Popkin, 1998; Popkin, 1999; Allender et al., 2010, Arokiasamy & Yadav, 2013].

In India, the modern food retail market grew by a whopping 49 percent from 2001 to 2010 [Reardon & Minten, 2011] and nutrition researchers estimate that 80-85 percent of Indians consume commercially processed foods [Reardon & Minten, 2011; Gupta et al., 2010, Misra et al., 2011] which reflects a significant shift from consumption of nutrient-rich foods to energy-dense processed foods, increased intake of meats and salt and a net decrease in intake of coarse cereals, fruits, and vegetables. Further, availability and accessibility of high-calorie foods in urban areas in comparison to rural areas, has resulted in higher rates of obesity and diabetes, in cities [Popkin, Adair & Ng, 2012, Popkin, 1998; Popkin, 1999; Reardon & Minten, 2011].

CHALLENGE

According to the International Diabetes Foundation, approximately 33 percent of adults with Diabetes remain undiagnosed [Bloom et al., 2014]. The annual number of deaths resulting from Diabetes increased two-fold from 100,000 in 1990 to 233,999 in 2010. By 2012, India had more than 63 million people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes, earning it the tag of being the “Diabetes Capital of the World”.

Unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity are key drivers for the rise in non-communicable diseases [NCD]. According to WHO, High blood pressure, high concentrations of cholesterol in the blood, inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables, overweight or obesity, lack of physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use, are some of the other factors for NCD [WHO, 2004] .

PROPOSED INTERVENTION

Public offices are synonymous with vintage canteens offering deep-fried snacks and tea coffee to staff and visitors. Café Womaniya will prod public offices to set up Café’/ Kiosk Womaniya which will offer nutrient-rich food & snacks and meals, designed and produced by women entrepreneurs, to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts.

The key goal will be to limit intake of free sugars, and salt/ sodium, and limit energy intake from total fats, shift fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats and eliminate use of trans-fatty acids.

STEPS TO SETUP CAFÉ WOMANIYA

Café/ tea and coffee pantry are run in every Government ministry, department and organization operates pantry/ café to prepare and serve light snacks and beverages to office staff. GeM operates a food kiosk which sells branded chips and cookies along with deep-fried Indian snacks, aerated beverages and bottled water.

Café Womaniya will encourage Government offices to procure low-fat, nutrient-rich, cookies, crackers, Indian snacks/ meals, pickles, tea/ coffee bags and organic food products that are available on GeM Womaniya page [https://gem.gov.in/womaniya] and stack for display/ sale to employees. Food products made by women entrepreneurs will be served in meetings and conferences, and employees can be incentivized to procure the same through staff food coupons.

Canteen services are a much-desired service in Government offices and women entrepreneurs will be encouraged to take up annual contracts for rendering such services. GeM is in touch with NGOs to handhold women entrepreneurs with training and skill development for canteen services. Popular regional and local delicacies may gradually replace branded chips and cookies, aerated beverages and deep-friend Indian snacks.

IMPACT

Economic

Café Womaniya will spur hyper-local employment and economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs in 60+ Government Ministries, departments, autonomous organizations and 300+ central public sector enterprise offices in Delhi NCR region.

Several Government institutions such as Ministry of Railways, Defence, Home, and Personnel and Training, are large buyers of food products. 3 percent mandatory procurement of supplies from women entrepreneurs will generate sustainable livelihoods for approx. 3,000-5,000 women representing low-income families in Delhi NCR region, alone.

Social

Since, dietary habits and patterns are rooted in local and regional traditions, Café Womaniya will prod grass-roots mobilization and advocacy for healthy dietary behaviour among Government employees, support wide dissemination of information related to prevention of non-communicable diseases through balanced diets and healthy lifestyles.

Café Womaniya will underline the role of Government in promoting public health, healthy diets and physical activity, and assist Government ministries, departments and organizations in meeting their mandatory 3 percent procurement, from Women entrepreneurs and SHGs.

Environmental

Hyper-local procurement of food will ensure shorter travel time for transporting fruits and vegetables from farm-to-fork. Delivery of farm fresh quality of fresh fruits and vegetables, in terms of shape, size, appearance and texture, will start reaching end-consumers and this will reduce carbon and water footprint during food production, processing, distribution, consumption, and disposal stages.

Gender Equality

Decisions about food and nutrition are determined by women and influenced by culture and traditional diets.

Economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs through opportunities within public procurement will address the twin challenges of malnutrition/ nutritional deficiencies and gender-violence, faced by women.

Café Womaniya aligns with SDG #5 Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by enabling the use of technology, especially ICT to promote empowerment of women, and SDG #8 Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value by promoting development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of MSME enterprises, including through access to financial services.

ABOUT US

Government e Marketplace [GeM] is an open, inclusive marketplace for procurement of common use goods and services by Government ministries, departments and CPSEs. The platform provides great opportunity to SHGs, women entrepreneurs, artisans, NGOs, Startups and other sectors to register, list and sell their products to government buyers. Women entrepreneurs face numerous difficulties in accessing public procurement markets and GeM has taken several proactive initiatives to facilitate the training and registrations of such specific category of manufacturers/ sellers.

The online platform offers end-to-end solution for procurement of common use goods and services by Government ministries, departments and CPSEs. GeM was setup in 2016 and has 1,026,764 product categories, with 246,237 registered sellers and 36,596 government buyers. Since inception, GeM has processed 19.63 lac orders worth 26,963 Crores in Gross Merchandise Value.

CREDITS

The author is indebted to Ms. S. Radha Chauhan, CEO GeM, Shri S Suresh Kumar, Additional CEO GeM and Dr. Rajeev Kandpal, CFO and Additional CEO GeM, and dear colleagues at GeM for their valuable support and inputs during the compilation of Project Startup Runway.

Special thanks to co-author Anohita, for her rich research, edits, proof-reads and kind support.

REFERENCES

Allender, S., et al. (2010). Level of urbanization and non-communicable disease risk factors in Tamil Nadu, India. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 88(ISSUE), 297–304.

Arokiasamy, P., et al. (2014). Longitudinal aging study in India: biomarker data documentation. RAND Working Paper WR-1043. Accessed 20 August 2014, from http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/working_papers/WR1000/WR1043/RAND_WR1043.pdf.

Bloom, D.E., Cafiero-Fonseca E.T., Candeias V, Adashi E., Bloom L., Gurfein L., Jané-Llopis E., Lubet, A., Mitgang E, Carroll O’Brien J, Saxena A (2014). Economics of Non-Communicable Diseases in India: The Costs and Returns on Investment of Interventions to Promote Healthy Living and Prevent, Treat, and Manage NCDs. World Economic Forum, Harvard School of Public Health, 2014.

et al. (2010). Imbalanced dietary profile, anthropometry, and lipids in urban Asian Indian adolescents and young adults. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 29(2), 81–91.

International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS). (2007). National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), 2005-06. Mumbai: International Institute for Population Sciences.

Misra, A., et al. (2011). Nutrition transition in India: secular trends in dietary intake and their relationship to diet-related non-communicable diseases. Journal of Diabetes, 3(4), 278–292.

Popkin, B. M., Adair, L. S., & Ng, S. W. (2012). Global nutrition transition and the pandemic of obesity in developing countries. Nutrition Reviews, 70(1), 3–21.

Popkin, B. M. (1998). The nutrition transition and its health implication in lower-income countries. Public Health Nutrition, 1(1), 5–21.

Popkin, B. M. (1999). Urbanization, lifestyle changes, and the nutrition transition. World Development, 27(11), 1905–1916.

Reardon, T., & Minten, B. (2011). The quiet revolution in India’s food supply chains. IFPRI Discussion Paper Number 01115. International Food Policy Research Institute. Accessed 20 August 2014, from http:// www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/ifpridp01115.pdf.

World Health Organization, (2004). Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. Accessed 16 March 2019, from https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/strategy/eb11344/strategy_english_web.pdf

Startup Womaniya :) From candle light to "SPOTLIGHT"

Women are the new drivers of economic growth and Women-driven business and their owners are viewed as a potential source of economic and social development. Large numbers of women are setting up and running their businesses. While majority of women who explore entrepreneurship, are driven by necessity, others are motivated by opportunity, and finally some are inspired by a combination of necessity and opportunity.

Studies show that women invest up to 90 percent of their incomes back into their families, and provide better nutrition, health care and education to their children. Since women tend to invest up to 90 percent of their earnings on their families and self, economic empowerment of women is a step towards poverty alleviation at multiple levels.

Hence, there is a real and present need to nurture Women entrepreneurship for achieving inclusive economic growth.

CHALLENGES

India generates nearly 14 percent of the global talent pool, among which 5.5 million women join India’s workforce each year, all overwhelmingly driven to succeed [Aguirre, 2012]. Although the knowledge economy has created enormous opportunities, women are challenged from reaching their full potential by a combination of cultural restrictions, gender discrimination, and lack of resources [Shukla et. al, 2016].

Due to legislative barriers and socio-cultural restrictions in developing nations, women gravitate towards less productive sectors that are characterized by low pay, long hours, and other informal working arrangements. Specific sectors that rely heavily on women workers include agribusiness, tourism, and textiles. Women tend to be under-represented in industry and extractive sectors, and other highly remunerative activities.

Absence of market linkages, lack of access to capital, financial services and training opportunities are some of the major constraints faced by women entrepreneurs’. Companies run by women are usually smaller than those operated by men in terms of number of employees, asset value, and turnover, besides being less profitable and productive. In developing countries, the probability of women being approved for loans is less than men and at higher interest rates while women in developed nations enjoy higher probability of getting loans with lesser collateral.

Nonetheless, there is an imperative need to develop Women entrepreneurship on the margins of society to achieve inclusive economic growth [Shukla et. al, 2016].

MARKET TRENDS

Internet economy in India is expected to contribute $200 billion to the nation’s GDP (nearly 5 percent of total GDP) by 2020 [Bajpai et. al, 2015]. The number of internet users are expected to reach 500 million by June 2018; 300 million urban users and 186 million rural users in December 2017, registering a 9.66 percent growth in urban and 14.11 percent in rural India, over same period last year [Internet and Mobile Association of India, 2018]. In 2015-16, online purchasing in rural India doubled from 4 to 8 percent with convenience and discounts emerging as key drivers for online commerce [Jain et. al, 2014].

Demographic characteristics of Internet users in 2018 India include; 54 percent users who will be 25 years and older with higher discretionary income and likely to transact more online. Half of Internet user base will reside in smaller towns and villages, thereby opening opportunities for marketers and service providers to ensure wider product availability through e-commerce. Today, women control 44 percent of household spending in India and will represent nearly 33 percent of Internet user base by 2018 [Bajpai et. al, 2015].

Wholesale/ retail trade accounts for about 60 percent of female entrepreneurial activity among factor-driven economies with highest participation among of 25-34 and 35-44 years age groups of women [Shukla et. al, 2016].

WOMEN AND INTERNET

An estimated 143 million Internet users or approximately 30 percent of Total Internet users in India are WOMEN and the ratio of male to female Internet users in Rural India is 64:36 [Internet and Mobile Association of India, 2018]. Influence of Internet on rural consumers in purchases of mobile devices, PCs and laptops is at par with urban users, but lag in consumer durable, auto, apparel and entertainment [Jain et. al, 2014]. Expanding reach, more affordable access and improved awareness are main propellers of this online growth. Emerging rural Internet users will leapfrog PC/ laptops platforms and use mobile devices to access Internet. Vernacular content is set to increase by more than 60 percent to mirror broadening consumption patterns in print and television media [Bajpai et. al, 2015].

Presently, diffusion of Internet is highest in Kerala (37%), Himachal Pradesh (28%), Punjab (28%) followed by Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir [Jain et. al, 2014].

WOMEN AND FINANCE

Access to capital and credit has been one of the biggest hurdles for women entrepreneurs. In 2015, Union Government launched the The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), a scheme for providing loans up to Rs. 10 lakh (around US$15,000) to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises. Under PMMY, all banks and Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs)/Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) - are required to lend to non-farm sector income generating activities below Rs.10 lakh. These loans are classified as MUDRA loans under PMMY.

In 2016-17, 78,250 [approx. 11 billion USD] Crores were disbursed to nearly 3 crore [30 million] women account holders under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana [Standup Mitra, 2016]. Women have higher loan repayment track record with 30-50 lower rates of non-performance loans in Women-owned businesses. Banks, therefore have greater potential for cross sales as women are likely to access 2 or 3 more products, in comparison to men.

Women bear great responsibility in any household to care for children, elderly and ensure clean, nutritious food for all, three times a day. Unpaid, women devote more than 1 to 3 hours a day to housework when compared to men and 2 to 10 times the amount of time a day, to care for children and elderly. Unlike men who get to travel and meet peers for networking, women are constrained with household responsibilities and unable to explore new business connections and or opportunities. Further, women experience most stress, when they are in their 30-40s' and busy starting families and raising children. Nonetheless, gender specific financial products and services, designed with the motivations, attitudes and approaches of Women to business are NEEDED [International Finance Corporation, 2014].

Government of India's expenditure for 2017-18 on Gender Specific programs totaled 1,17,221 Crores [USD 16.75 billion]; 30,190 Crores [USD 4.31 billion] on 100 percent women specific programs and 87,031 Crores [USD 12.73 billion] on 30 percent women specific programs [Ministry of Finance, GoI, 2018].

POTENTIAL IMPACT

The “Third Billion” Female Economy represents a vast pool of untapped entrepreneurial energy and underutilized producers and consumers. Banks and financial institutions with innovative business models and market strategy stand to access and gain from these new emerging markets.

Engaging women as producers, consumers and entrepreneurs is therefore key to reducing poverty and driving broader economic growth. Banks, Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLE) at Common Service Centers (CSC), NGOs and Women Self Help Groups (WSHG) can aggregate women artisans and micro-entrepreneurs, register as "Seller" on Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and offer generic products to various government departments, institutions and PSUs. More importantly, GeM platform will align women entrepreneurs and professionals in rural hinterlands with hyper-local economic opportunities in Government institutions. Startup Womaniya neatly aligns with Prime Minister’s Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Nari Shakti 4 New India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and empowered Women-led development in India.

Startup Womaniya initiative at GeM addresses the Sustainable Development Goals SDG 5 Gender Equality which seeks to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls. Compelling research evidence reinforces, economic empowerment of women and girls as a multiplier effect in accelerating economic growth and sustainable development.

SDGs are global mission statements to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. These goals are interlinked and often the key to success with one SDG will involve tackling issues more commonly associated with another. Some other goals addressed include SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

From Candlelight to SPOTLIGHT

There is an inherent need to build a repository of knowledge, resources, and guidance regarding entrepreneurship. Key stakeholders in the government, the private sector, and civil society should create a network across India, linking women in rural and urban centers. This cross-sector initiative should provide free business counseling to aspiring entrepreneurs, improve market linkages, help them tap into existing resources, and connect them with mentors. Women should be encouraged to attain leadership positions in sectors employing large numbers of women.

Connecting women entrepreneurs with Government departments, institutions and PSUs via Government e-Marketplace and facilitating seamless e-procurement of general use products and essential services in a hub-spoke network is POSSIBLE. As India’s continues to emerge as a global leader, removing the obstacles to women’s economic empowerment will exponentially increase its power, now and for tomorrow.

CREDITS

The author is indebted to Ms. S. Radha Chauhan, CEO Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and Ms. Geetanjli Agrawal, VP Communications and Training, GeM for their kind assistance and cooperation during the compilation of Project Startup Womaniya.

REFERENCES

Aguirre, D., Hoteit, L., Rupp, C., & Sabbagh, K. (2012). Empowering the Third Billion & Women and the World in 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2018, from https://www.strategyand.pwc.com/media/file/Strategyand_Empowering-the-Third-Billion_Full-Report.pdf Strategy & Formerly Booz & Company

Bajpai, S., Jain, N., & Kanchan, S. (2015, April 23). The Changing Connected Consumer in India. Retrieved March 15, 2018, Retrieved from The Boston Consulting Group website https://www.bcg.com/publications/2015/globalization-technology-digital-changing-connected-consumer-in-india.aspx

International Finance Corporation (2014). Women-owned Businesses in India, A Research Report on Opportunities, Challenges and the Way Forward. Retrieved International Finance Corporation website, March 10, 2018, from www.ifc.org

Internet and Mobile Association of India. (2018). Internet Users Projected to Cross 500 Million By June 2018: Retrieved March 16, 2018 from IAMAI website: http://www.iamai.in/media/details/4990

Jain, N., & Sanghi, K. (2016, August 10). The Rising Connected Consumer in Rural India. Retrieved March 15, 2018, Retrieved from The Boston Consulting Group website https://www.bcg.com/publications/2016/globalization-customer-insight-rising-connected-consumer-in-rural-india.aspx

Ministry of Finance, Government of India. (2018). Part-1-General, Gender Budget, Statement 13, Union Budget 2018-19. Retrieved from The Ministry of Finance, Government of India website March 18, 2018 from http://www.indiabudget.gov.in/ub2018-19/eb/stat13.pdf

Shukla, S., Tanuku, K., Bharti, P., & Dwivedi, A. K. (2016). Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2014, India Report. Retrieved from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor website, March 10, 2018, from http://gemconsortium.org/report

World Bank. 2012. World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development. World Bank. © World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/4391 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”

World Bank, World Development Report 2012. p. 80.