Team DevSol4, which won the first edition of Code4Change 2023-24, shares why more data science professionals should participate in this unique event

CDSSI held the first edition of Code4Change 2023-24 (C4C) at the SAIACS CEO Centre on May 24 in Bengaluru. The event culminated with team DevSol4 being declared the winner. The team, from Development Solutions (DS), included Jagan (MEL Manager), Agrima (Project Manager), and Research Associates Sidra and Mallika, was among five finalists who presented their solutions to an esteemed jury, including Dr. Anand Rao (Professor of Data Science and AI at Carnegie Mellon University), Jayita Bhattacharya (Senior Director of Insights & Data at Capgemini), and Mayukh Choudhury (Co-founder of MILAAP).

The jury evaluated the teams on factors like relevance, methodology, data analysis, delivery, and impact. Teams were tasked with identifying key factors driving financial vulnerability in households, and assessing their impact on risk prediction. This required developing a model to identify, predict, and map the financial vulnerability of women-headed rural households. They were given a dataset that included household demographic profiles, socio-economic factors such as resource access and asset ownership, information on access to government schemes, and digital footprints of households. DevSol4 talks about their experience:

Why did you participate in Code4Change?

This hackathon was an excellent opportunity for us to showcase our ability to create real-time impactful solutions. We participated because:

1. We wanted to leverage data science in developing innovative solutions to pressing problems.
2. It was an opportunity for our research associates to gain valuable exposure and actively enhance their skills, thereby deepening their learning curve.

Tell us about the process. How did you work on your solution?

We created a Financial Vulnerability Index (FVI) to understand and measure the financial challenges faced by women-headed households in India, helping policymakers focus on those who need support the most. Through secondary research, we identified key barriers such as low income, limited financial knowledge, and poor access to services. Based on these insights, we developed four categories within the index: Banking and Digital Access, Asset Ownership, Social Welfare Support, and Income and Savings, reflecting the many factors that contribute to financial vulnerability. Further, we used a dimensionality reduction technique called Principal Component Analysis to determine the most relevant components and arrive at a single composite index. To enhance its accuracy, we employed a machine learning algorithm.

What did you discover?

Our analysis uncovered significant regional disparities in vulnerability. West Bengal, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu displayed the lowest levels of financial vulnerability, while Daman & Diu and Chandigarh showed the highest, with Chhattisgarh also emerging as highly vulnerable.

What kind of impact can your solution have?

The Financial Vulnerability Index (FVI) developed by the team can serve as a useful tool for social sector organisations, policymakers, and financial institutions to guide targeted assistance to financially vulnerable women-headed households in three ways:

Targeted Policy Interventions: The FVI can help policymakers identify the most vulnerable households, enabling focused social welfare efforts, such as subsidies, microfinance loans, and digital literacy initiatives, to ensure resources reach those in greatest need.

Strategic Planning for SPOs: SPOs can use the FVI to pinpoint high-need areas, allowing them to design programs - like financial literacy workshops, entrepreneurship training, and digital financial services - to support economic empowerment.

Enhanced Predictive Capabilities: The FVI’s machine learning model predicts future vulnerabilities, offering SPOs a proactive tool for planning. It can be scaled to offer insights at more localised levels, enabling tailored interventions for specific communities.

What were your learnings from the hackathon?

One of our biggest takeaways was how different teams came up with fundamentally different solutions (and findings) to the same problem using the same dataset. While all of us had a particular lens through which we approached the problem, there is merit in pooling our collective expertise in solving "wicked" social and policy problems.

Would you recommend Code4Change to others?

Of course! It is a great platform to bring together different stakeholders, all working on similar economic and social problems but with different approaches and expertise. It helps understand where there are gaps in evidence and research, and how they can be overcome. This can help with more efficient planning and allocation of resources. The judges too were open, collaborative and learned in their field, offering all participants insight into solving such problems.

It’s an avenue to use technological and data-related advancements in novel areas, and think beyond traditional quant and qual research methods. It’s also an opportunity for networking, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

The Code4Change is a bi-annual social sector hackathon conducted by ISDM CDSSI.

Learn more about the hackathon here: https://www.isdm.org.in/cdssi/projects/code4change

The dream of achieving gender equality in education isn’t just an ambitious goal—it’s essential for building a just and thriving society. Yet, for millions of girls in India, even the basic right to attend school feels like a distant dream. Cultural norms, financial hardships, and deep-seated biases keep countless girls from stepping into a classroom. For every girl who overcomes these challenges, there are many more whose aspirations remain unfulfilled.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4—ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all by 2030—sets an inspiring benchmark. But here’s the tough question: Are we doing enough to make it a reality?

The Reality for Girls in India

India has made noteworthy progress in girls’ education over the years. Initiatives like the Right to Education Act (2009) and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) have significantly improved enrollment numbers. According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022, several states now report near-equal enrollment rates for boys and girls in primary schools—a commendable achievement.

However, the road ahead remains riddled with challenges.

• High Dropout Rates: Around 40% of rural girls drop out before completing secondary school.
  • Take the case of Pooja from Rajasthan, who had to leave school at 14 because her family prioritized her brother’s education. Thanks to intervention by a local NGO, Pooja is now back in school and excelling.
• Child Marriages: About 27% of Indian girls are married before the age of 18, cutting their education short.
  • Anita, from Bihar, was married off at 16, forcing her to abandon her studies. Organizations like Girls Not Brides are tirelessly working to change this narrative, but shifting ingrained cultural practices is a slow process.
• The Digital Divide: The pandemic highlighted glaring inequalities, with nearly 47% of rural girls unable to access online learning due to a lack of smartphones or internet connectivity.
  • Rekha, a tribal girl from Madhya Pradesh, missed two years of school during the pandemic for this very reason. Thankfully, a local NGO set up a community learning center, enabling her to continue her education.

In urban areas, the outlook is somewhat better, but for girls in rural and tribal communities, barriers such as poor infrastructure, unsafe roads, and regressive social norms persist.

Barriers Hindering Progress

1. Cultural Norms and Safety Concerns

For many families, educating a boy is seen as an investment, while educating a girl is still viewed as unnecessary. Safety concerns, such as long commutes to schools, often force parents to withdraw their daughters.

• In parts of Uttar Pradesh, for example, parents stopped sending their daughters to school because the nearest school was 8 kilometers away and unsafe to access. Programs like UNICEF’s Transport for Education aim to address this, but change is slow.

2. Financial Pressures

In low-income households, girls are often pulled out of school to contribute to household chores or earn a living.

• Asha, from Maharashtra, had to quit school to work as a domestic helper. Thanks to evening classes provided by Pratham, she’s now balancing education and her responsibilities.

3. Policy Implementation Gaps

While India has several robust policies, like the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) scheme, poor execution limits their effectiveness.

• For instance, in Odisha, a KGBV school faced severe teacher shortages, leaving students without lessons for weeks. Media coverage eventually prompted action, but these systemic gaps shouldn’t exist in the first place.

4. Transitioning to Higher Education

Even when girls complete primary schooling, advancing to secondary or higher education is often a challenge due to inadequate infrastructure or safety concerns.

• Farida, a gifted student from Assam, couldn’t pursue college because there were no hostels nearby. Initiatives like Tata Trusts’ residential schools are making strides, but the demand far exceeds the supply.

Ongoing Efforts to Empower Girls

The government, non-profits, and corporate entities are taking active steps to improve the situation:

Government Initiatives

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): This campaign has helped shift societal mindsets and increase girl enrollment rates, particularly in states like Haryana.
• Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV): These residential schools enable marginalized girls to access education safely.
• Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: By focusing on infrastructure and digital tools, this program is bridging gaps in remote areas.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programs

• Project Nanhi Kali (Mahindra Group): Supporting over 500,000 girls, this initiative provides school supplies and remedial classes.
• Tata Steel’s Thousand Schools Program: Targeting tribal regions, it has brought education to over 200,000 children, many of them girls.
• IBM STEM for Girls: Teaching digital and STEM skills, this program inspires girls to pursue careers in technology.

The Road to 2030: What Needs to Change?

To achieve gender parity in education by 2030, we must address the root causes of inequality with urgency and innovation.

1. Enforce Policies Effectively:

• Ensure proper funding and monitoring of initiatives like BBBP and KGBV.
• Empower local authorities to implement policies effectively.

2. Close the Digital Gap:

• Provide affordable smartphones and internet access in rural areas.
• Launch grassroots digital literacy programs to include entire communities.

3. Improve Infrastructure:

• Build more schools with clean sanitation facilities for girls.
• Offer safe transportation options for students in remote areas.

4. Shift Social Norms:

• Train local women as teachers to serve as role models.
• Conduct community campaigns to challenge traditional gender roles.

5. Incentivize Education:

• Offer scholarships, menstrual hygiene kits, and vocational training to make education more accessible.

A Brighter Future Is Possible

So, can India achieve gender parity in education by 2030? The answer is a resounding yes - but only if we treat it as a national priority. Stories like those of Pooja, Anita, and Rekha prove that while the barriers are real, they are not insurmountable.

The key lies in channeling resources where they’re needed most - into villages, schools, and local communities. Educating girls isn’t just about them; it’s about uplifting families, transforming societies, and shaping the nation’s future.

This isn’t just a question of whether we can achieve gender parity. It’s a matter of commitment. Because every girl deserves the chance to learn, grow, and thrive - and the world is a better place when she does.