Kolkata - April 12, 2023: The Flipkart Foundation, under the Flipkart Group, has partnered with All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association (AIACA) to launch a project called Greening the Way towards Success Creating Sustainable Enterprises. The objective is to establish a sustainable and replicable model that can foster the development and promotion of textile and handicraft based green enterprises in India.
The entrepreneurial programme will be implemented in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. This programme is designed to empower two textile and handicraft-based enterprises to adopt eco-friendly practices and compete in the rapidly emerging conscious markets. The initiative also aims at ensuring the social well-being of the craftspersons, with a focus on empowering women artisans from marginalised communities.
The collaboration aims to boost the business potential of two specific establishments in Birbhum: Chowhatta Kantha Stitch Cooperative Society Ltd. and Tarasankar Panchagram Seva Samity (which has 200 craftswomen, 77% belonging to SC/ST and OBC communities, producing banana fibre crafts). In total, this initiative will positively impact 1,265 individuals (265 direct and 1000 indirect beneficiaries).
Project Activities
The project activities comprise of:
- Design Development: To help the groups create new designs in tune with the market trends.
- Capacity building initiatives: To develop business skills and green practices in the enterprises.
- Brand enhancement: Through workshops about 'Brand Building through Digital Platforms and creation and promotion of marketing tools.
- Enhancing Social security of artisans: By generating awareness about various Government Schemes and linking them to the Schemes.
- Advocacy for the sustainable green enterprises through campaigns, with an aim to replicate the model in other areas.
The programme also endeavours to create a Hub & Spoke Model for Green Enterprises in India, with the prospective purpose of establishing a network of smaller businesses linked to a central hub in Delhi called "National Resource Facility Network (NRFN)".
Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart and Board of Director, Flipkart Foundation, said, "Our partnership with AIACA is a reflection of this very commitment. By promoting eco-friendly means and technologies, we hope to create an environmentally viable growth model that will also empower skilled workers from marginalised communities in the textile handicrafts sector. Through these efforts, we aim to provide more opportunities for the community in Birbhum district."
Meenu Chopra, Executive Director, AIACA, said, "With this programme, our aim is to generate sustainable livelihoods for women artisans... while introducing a regenerative and sustainable Green model for Textile based enterprises, that can be replicated widely to promote sustainability in all aspects."
In the past year, Flipkart Foundation has worked with underserved communities across nine states, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, to ensure maximum reach and sustainable impact.
About the Flipkart Group
The Flipkart Group is one of India's leading digital commerce entities and includes group companies Flipkart, Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, Flipkart Health+, and Cleartrip. Established in 2007, Flipkart has a registered customer base of more than 450 million, offers over 150 million products across 80+ categories, and has over 11 lakh sellers on the platform. Flipkart is known for pioneering services such as Cash on Delivery, No Cost EMI, and easy returns.
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