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The pilot phase of the KanyaGyaan project is already underway, targeting 150 women. Vivo said that 60% of these participants come from economically disadvantaged families.
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To mark International Women’s Day 2025, Chinese tech major Vivo has launched a new initiative ‘KanyaGyaan’ aimed at empowering young Indian women with skills to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Without women in STEM careers, the country is losing nearly half its scientific potential, it said, launching the initiative on March 5. “Gender gap in STEM fields remains a pressing challenge, especially for young women from underserved communities in India,” vivo reportedly noted.
Explaining the scope of the project, it said that the project won’t be just focused on the traditional trend of providing women with scholarship opportunities. Vivo KanyaGyaan will also offer mentorship, skill development and industry exposure to young women from underserved communities.
Initial Phase Targeting 150 Women Across India
The pilot phase of the KanyaGyaan project is already underway, targeting 150 women. Vivo said that 60% of these participants come from economically disadvantaged families, with an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh. It also added that another 15% were those raised by single parents.
“Our Women’s Day campaign film captures this spirit with the metaphor of ‘carrying their own chairs’—a symbol of determination and self-empowerment. With this, we hope to inspire a larger movement toward empowerment and action in STEM,” Geetaj Channana, Head of Corporate Strategy, vivo India, reportedly said.
Vivo also launched a video campaign to mark the occasion, in which many young Indian women from diverse backgrounds are seen undertaking long journeys to their dream colleges and careers. The campaign has been crafted by media company – FCB India.
Indian Women Have High Participation in STEM Studies, Low in Workforce
According to a report by the Observer Research Foundation, India’s share of female graduates in STEM stood at 42.7% in 2018, which is significantly higher compared to many developed countries like Germany (about 27%). Despite this, women make up only 27% of the STEM workforce in India, the report released in January stated. Globally, women account for 29.2% of the STEM workforce in about 146 countries, according to a Gender Gap Report 2023.
Experts call this issue a “leaky pipeline”, noting that despite the ability to succeed, women are dropping out of STEM careers due to problems such as stereotypes, and systemic barriers, at home and workplaces, familial responsibilities and biases.
