Lucknow: Online learning platforms and courses are enabling rural women pursue education from home and improve their employment and business prospects, experts said during a panel discussion in the Times Women of Eminence-2026 event organized by The Times of India and Navbharat Times on Sunday.The panel discussions focused on women empowerment, digital participation and workplace equality.The first panel discussion, ‘Digital Bhagidari Aur Bharat Ki Rani’, discussed how digital platforms are shaping opportunities for women.Psychiatrist Alok Bajpai said that online learning platforms and courses offered by IGNOU enable women from rural backgrounds to pursue education from home and improve their employment prospects.Pro-Chancellor of Shri Ram Swaroop Memorial University, Pooja Agarwal, highlighted that digital tools help women turn skills such as knitting, papad making and pickle making into online enterprises, allowing them to reach larger markets and earn independently.Founder of Aryashree Shiksha Samiti, Tulika Kapoor, spoke about the influence of reel culture on social media and explained that it increased confidence among women while expanding their awareness about life in cities.Social worker Poonam Singh said, “Digitalisation supports women socially and economically by helping them access information, connect with support networks, promote small businesses and participate in discussions on social issues.”Vice chairperson of the Sunbeam Group of Educational Institutions, Bharti Madhok, said: “Digital platforms have opened new avenues for young women. Through social media, many girls are expressing their ideas, learning new skills and turning their creativity into income.”The second panel discussion, ‘Samanta Ki Kasauti Par Mahila Shram’, discussed equality in the workforce.Writer, director and actor Atul Tiwari said, “If we want equality at workplaces, it must begin with equality in homes and classrooms. When boys and girls grow up with the same opportunities and expectations, respect for women’s work and equal pay will naturally follow.”Organiser of Kanpur Literature Festival Anjali Tiwari said that recognising women’s achievements in cultural and public spaces inspired fairness and opened doors for equal opportunities.Educationist Anshu Singh Gautam remarked, “Supporting girls in schools and colleges builds confidence, and allows them to step into professional roles with assurance and ambition.”Director of Jeevan Jyoti Group of Hospitals, Vandana Bansal, pointed out that equality involves not just pay, but respect, safety and growth opportunities, which workplaces must actively provide.The event was supported by Sofy, Nandi, Abhyudaya Celestial, BMW Mini India, Union Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Bank of India.
