14 July, 2023 – Flipkart’s Contributions – At a time when Sustainable development is important, India stays steadfast in its commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The urgency of success in this endeavor necessitates a communal acceptance of responsibility, making it increasingly important for all stakeholders to participate actively. In the midst of this realization of the importance of shared responsibility, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) emerges as a critical force powering India’s unwavering pursuit of these revolutionary aims. CSR may bring about good shifts in poverty alleviation, environmental conservation, and fair access to excellent education and healthcare through supporting responsible company practices and investing in social and environmental activities.
Flipkart, an Indian e-commerce marketplace, is actively contributing to the country’s SDG goals through a variety of CSR activities run by its CSR arm, Flipkart Foundation. Flipkart displays its commitment to establishing a sustainable and inclusive future for India by enabling local craftsmen and small companies, increasing digital literacy, helping women entrepreneurs, and embracing eco-friendly practices.
Flipkart’s Contributions
The Flipkart Foundation is leading meaningful programs in four key areas: facilitating market access for sustainable livelihoods, supporting skill development, embracing environmental responsibility, and fostering community development. The Flipkart Foundation is making tremendous strides in advancing multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 at the grassroots level by developing strong collaborations with important stakeholders and organizations.
The Flipkart Foundation actively interacts with self-help groups, local artisans, weavers, craftspeople, and raw and organic food item producers through its flagship program ‘Samarth’ to ensure market access, training, and support. This program provides sellers with time-bound incubation support, such as cataloguing assistance and account administration, to help them expand on the site. Since its inception in 2019, Flipkart Samarth has helped over 7.5 lakh craftspeople and positively influenced the livelihoods of over 1.5 million vendors, artisans, and weavers. The program has also signed 26 Memorandums of Understanding with various government agencies.
Promoting Skill Development
The charity just launched ‘Nari Shakti,’ an innovative program aimed at empowering girls and women from underserved regions. The major goal is to provide approximately 600 young girls and women with vital vocational skills, as well as to foster financial independence and encourage them to establish micro-enterprises for long-term livelihoods. This 12-month initiative will be carried out in the districts of Tavru (Haryana) and Titron (Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh). In addition, the organization has launched ‘Pankh – Wings of Destiny,’ a training program targeted at upskilling and enabling work prospects for people with disabilities (PwDs). This training would be delivered to 50 beneficiaries at Pankh Physical Classroom locations in Gurugram and Bengaluru to encourage inclusive growth by providing beneficiaries with job-ready skills for a variety of industries such as retail, logistics, e-commerce, and information technology.
Embracing Environmental Responsibility
In an effort to address and create awareness about the worrisome environmental changes, the Flipkart Foundation has teamed with NGOs on an impactful campaign dubbed Project Seedball blasting in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. With the help of government officials, approximately 1.1 million seed balls were handed to schoolchildren and community members as part of an educational campaign highlighting their importance and promoting community participation in disseminating these seed balls. Drones were used to access difficult terrain. Furthermore, roughly 70 kg of seed balls were sent to government authorities for community-driven distribution.
Furthermore, Flipkart has developed “Flipkart Green,” an exclusive virtual store within its app dedicated to exhibiting a wide range of environmentally friendly products. “Flipkart Green” simplifies the process of identifying and purchasing globally certified sustainable items across many categories, with an emphasis on customers who desire to live an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Fostering Community Development
The foundation has collaborated with the All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association (AIACA) to launch the “Greening the Way to Success – Creating Sustainable Enterprises” project. This initiative will create an entrepreneurship program in Birbhum, West Bengal, with a focus on two textile and handicraft firms. The goal of implementing eco-friendly practices is to provide these enterprises with the essential abilities to thrive in quickly shifting aware marketplaces. Tarasankar, a community of 200 craftswomen, is made up of 77 percent SC/ST and OBC women who make their crafts out of banana fiber. This endeavor will benefit 1,265 people, comprising 265 direct recipients and 1000 indirect beneficiaries, ultimately contributing to community development.
The Flipkart Foundation has been committed to aligning with the Flipkart Group’s continuing nation-building endeavors since its creation in 2022. Furthermore, the Flipkart Foundation’s steadfast commitment to social impact extends beyond economic empowerment.
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