The Amazing Women Local Guides Community of India

[TusharSuradkar]

The meetup of India local guides in Pune on 10 November was special for 2 reasons:

1. 50th meetup in year 2024.
2. The panel discussion of the amazing women local guides.

The panel was led by @Latika_Malhotra of Google India.
The participants were @MerlinThomas @Durgak03 @Supriyadevkar and @SaylliWalve1 .
Whereas, @Shubhu1 @Ru_pali4 @MayuriKubal participated online.

We asked Latika Ji for guidance regarding contributions and participation by women local guides.

Here’s a clip from the video where Latika Ji explained the roadmap of Google for India’s local guide community.

VIDEO - Women Local Guides of India - Discussion Panel

I too interacted with the women local guides.
Here are my takeaway and impressions:

The contributions of women local guides on Google Maps in India have significantly improved the platform’s inclusivity, usability, and relevance for users.

Their involvement and activeness have:

1. Addressed Gender-Specific Needs

   A. Women local guides in India have actively identified locations that cater specifically to their needs, such as safety ratings for neighborhoods or places.
   B. They have highlighted the presence of baby-care facilities, clean restrooms, and female-friendly amenities at businesses in their reviews.
   C. Highlighting women-led businesses and initiatives have promoted gender inclusivity and economic empowerment.

3. Improved Safety Features

   A. Women local guides in India, through their unique perspectives, have contributed valuable input to features like safer routes highlighting well-lit and heavily trafficked areas.
   B. They are posting alerts for potentially unsafe zones based on real-time or historical data.

Women local guides are using the new ways to share ahead that were shared during the Contributor Conversations in Delhi

C. Women local guides’s firsthand experiences have helped refine existing safety tools, making them more effective for everyone.

5. Encouraged Representation

A. Women local guide’s activeness has ensured a more balanced representation of different voices and perspectives on Google Maps and Connect.
B. Women local guides have added reviews, ratings, and information about places that might otherwise be overlooked by predominantly male contributors.

6. Enhanced Cultural and Social Sensitivity

Women local guides have added their special perspectives on social and cultural norms to Google Maps reviews thus improving their appropriateness. For example, highlighting a family-friendly place or a kid-friendly place.

Latika Ji felicitated the women local guides in appreciation of the following:

1. The women local guides in India have actively contributed to Google Maps and have inspired others to engage in technology, fostering inclusivity.

2. Male local guides also actively mark women-led businesses and highlight markets and services for women. Such contributions have boosted the visibility of these establishments.
This has strengthened local small businesses and has supported gender equity in entrepreneurship.

3. In India, women local guides’s contributions to Google Maps have transformed it from just a navigation tool to a comprehensive resource that reflects the needs and aspirations of a truly diverse global population.

I also take this opportunity to thank and congratulate women local guides who are leading from the front, globally! @Denigu @Angieyc @Ivi_Ge @MoniDi @Julie_A

[SaylliWalve1]

Such a heartwarming post with beautifully curated takeaways! @TusharSuradkar dada

Kudos to everyone featured here for their dedication, and a big thank you to those behind the scenes supporting this amazing community.

Let’s continue guiding, contributing, and inspiring each other

#WomenEmpowerment #LocalGuidesIndia

[PrasadVR]

Thank you dear @TusharSuradkar ji for sharing this wonderful topic on the valuable contributions of women Local Guides. I appreciate you encouraging them.
Thank you dear @Latika_Malhotra ji of Google India for taking the time to motivate and inspire women Local Guides.

[Shaunak]

Wow, that’s an awesome meetup on a great topic. @TusharSuradkar

[Rahul001]

Thanks for sharing the moment’s captured from the meetup @TusharSuradkar . Also thank you for making a talking panel for women and making this initiative in your meet-up. Empowered women Empower women

[Annaelisa]

@TusharSuradkar
Eine informative und interessante Zusammenfassung über die Initiativen der teilnehmenden Frauen, deren Beiträge hier auf Connect ich auch besonders liebe.

[Supriyadevkar]

50th meet-up is very important to us because Latika Malhotra who is Indian Googler.she is attending this event.she is so energetic and encouraging person.

लतिका मल्होत्रा या मिटप ला सुरवाती पासून शेवट पर्यंत हजर होत्या.प्रत्येकाशी त्या मिळुन मिसळून वागत होत्या आणि त्यामुळे प्रत्येक जण मोकळेपणाने बोलू शकत होता.

अनेक विषयांवर चर्चा झाल्या आणि नंतर महिला वर्गासाठी विशेष थोडा वेळ काढून कम्युनिटी वाढीसंदर्भात चर्चा करण्यात आली.यावेळी लतिका नी नवीन फिचर मध्ये काय काय येणार याची माहिती महिलांना दिली तसेच महिलांचे काॅन्ट्रीब्युशन कसे असावे आणि कसे वाढवावे याची चर्चा ही याठिकाणी करण्यात आली.

आपल्या भागात तुम्ही कशी कम्युनिटी वाढवावी.आणि तुमचे रिव्ह्यू कसे लोकांना पोहचवावेत, पोस्ट कशा असाव्यात याची चर्चा करण्यात आली.

खरोखरच हि भेट चांगली झाली मलाच वेळ देता आला नाही त्यामुळे कुठेतरी मनात वाईट वाटले.पण ठिक आहे नंतर पुन्हा भेटूच

[Anil6969]

Wow wonderful congratulations to all these women power from Bharat,
I am missing here @RosyKohli @Shrut19 @Gurukrishnapriya and @artishinde as they too are active lg hope they have not attended.
Keep inspiring and growing women power.
Regards
Anil

[MayuriKubal]

Wonderful post @TusharSuradkar Thank you for the tag and mention Keep up the good work

[TravellerG]

Congratulations, dear @TusharSuradkar this grand session… great
8 LGs in group discussions, led by our respected @Latika_Malhotra Ji… I’m sure that this is the first time that we had such a grand privilege… thanks to Googler Latika Ji and team members.
Yes, Latika Ji, I remember your message “We have to grow our community” (the message you gave as in our Delhi meet up - I too strongly believe in this - incidently I am Guiding Star as a Community Builder…
Yes, dear friend Tushar, the takeaways look very impressive…
Another grand session…
Thanks for sharing these details…
Best wishes with prayers…

[MerlinThomas]

@TusharSuradkar The post is pretty well-written. Thank you for your mention.

[Gurukrishnapriya]

Thanks @Anil6969 for your kind words and recognition. Felt happy for your great words. Thanks again.

[Shrut19]

नमस्कार
@Anil6969

धन्यवाद दादा
मी युट्यूब लाईव्ह आणि मिट अप अटेंड केले होते, पण बहुतेक इनव्हिजीबल असल्याने दिसली नाही, तुम्ही टॅग केल्याबद्दल आणि शुभेच्छा बद्दल धन्यवाद

[Ru_pali4]

Thanks @TusharSuradkar and local guide team for continues support for women local guides and encouraging to do better.

[Latika_Malhotra]

Thank you @TusharSuradkar for celebrating the women community. Aap sabse milkar bohot hi acha laga. Looking fwd for more such interactions next year:)

[tony_b]

This is a nice post. I love the focus of the event. Well done, women. Congratulations for all you’re doing.

[Ssiddharth2000]

Amazing meet-up @TusharSuradkar Kudos to all the participants