At first Dr Rajat Kathuria, Director and CE, ICRIER, highlighted the results of the study. He pointed out that while freelancing is an activity in which various sections of society were involved. As Dr Kathuria summarised, the online freelancing ecosystem had expanded to encompass a variety of skills, work type and commitment to freelancing. It facilitated the involvement of a signficant cohort of informal labour in India, particularly women. He stressed on the need for including freelancing as a part of labour policy design. He also referred to the necessity for building awareness and correcting perceptions through the concerted participation of multiple stakeholders.

The next speaker was Ms. Helani Galpaya, the CEO of LIRNEasia. She spoke on another survey carried out in India by her own organisation. This survey was more comprehensive and wide ranging in terms of both the issues covered as well as the respondents accessed. The focus was on a more micro view with the individuals being interviewed for assessing their outlook towards online freelancing as a remunerative activity.

Finally a panel discussion on the existing status of online freelancing in India and the way forward was held, with the participants being Mr Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Info Edge, Mr R.Chandrashekhar, President, NASSCOM, Mr Manish Kumar, MD and CEO, National Skill Development Council, and Dr Harsha Vardhana Singh, Executive Director, Brookings India. The discussion was moderated by Dr Kathuria.

It was a interesting and eye opening session on the diverse aspects of a virgin area like freelancing. Everybody gained some unique insights based on the preceding interactions.