Lucknow, October 10, 2023. The Flipkart Foundation, the charitable arm of the Flipkart Group, has joined forces with Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions Pvt Ltd (Haqdarshak) to introduce a program aimed at empowering economically disadvantaged micro and nano-entrepreneurs in Uttar Pradesh. This project, operating in Lucknow and Varanasi for six months, aims to provide access to formal documents, financing options, and essential support to underprivileged business aspirants. By uplifting and empowering 2,500 micro and nano-entrepreneurs, this collaboration strives to promote economic inclusivity and create new opportunities.
The initiative aims to address the specific needs of entrepreneurs facing socio-economic challenges and assist them in navigating the complex process of starting their businesses. Empowering 2,500 micro and nano-entrepreneurs and indirectly benefiting over 7,500 individuals, it aims to drive positive change, impacting the lives of more than 10,000 individuals.The project will be implemented through a systematic approach, with Haqdarshak first identifying and training community members referred to as Haqdarshaks. Simultaneously, the organization will identify economically disadvantaged small-scale business owners, with a focus on women entrepreneurs. The project aims to connect underprivileged micro/nano-entrepreneurs with relevant schemes and documents, eventually transitioning to credit linkage schemes. Throughout the process, Haqdarshaks will provide comprehensive application support to the beneficiaries, ensuring end-to-end assistance and ongoing coordination with government agencies to ensure successful outcomes.
Commenting on the collaboration, Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group, said, "It is a pleasure to stand alongside the similar minded partners in this impactful journey that stands as a beacon of our commitment to democratising entrepreneurship. This collaboration embodies our shared vision of driving meaningful change and fostering economic empowerment and self-sufficiency. By equipping economically disadvantaged micro and nano entrepreneurs with the necessary tools, we aim to facilitate access to resources and nurture a sense of empowerment. Besides linking individuals to schemes and documents, this initiative will help forge pathways to opportunities that have the power to transform lives in the districts of Varanasi and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh."
Aniket Doegar, CEO and Co-founder of Haqdarshak, said, “We are thrilled to start our work with micro and nano businesses in Uttar Pradesh with the Flipkart Foundation. Haqdarshak’s aim is to foster entrepreneurship by enabling them to unlock the benefits of welfare programs designed for them. With Flipkart Foundation, we will focus on formalising these micro-enterprises and enabling them to access credit and other subsidies for business growth. This association will be important in our journey towards impacting 20 million micro-enterprises by 2030.”
The collaborative initiative between the Flipkart Foundation and Haqdarshak is set to usher in a transformative era for financially underserved small-scale business owners. By improving access to government schemes, essential documents, and future credit opportunities, this program aims to uplift individuals and envision a more inclusive and prosperous economic landscape.Over the past year, the Flipkart Foundation has engaged with underserved communities in various sectors across multiple states, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Their work aims to serve, support, and empower unskilled and underprivileged sections of society, striving for maximum reach and sustainable impact.
