Mumbai, November 21, 2023: The Retailers Association of India (RAI) and TRRAIN (Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India) are jointly organising EKAM – All Inclusion Summit 2023. Scheduled for December 5th, 2023, at Hotel Taj Santacruz in Mumbai, the summit aims to address diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges within the retail sector.
EKAM Summit 2023 seeks to increase awareness, facilitate learning, encourage collaboration, and instigate change through open dialogues involving thought leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders from various sectors. The theme for the first edition is 'Fostering Inclusion: Celebrating Differences, Driving Social Change', emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and celebrating human differences, including backgrounds, perspectives, and abilities.
The summit will cover key aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion, focusing on topics such as Inclusive Leadership, Paradigm Shift in Building Inclusivity, and Challenges and Opportunities in Building Inclusive Communities.
Speaking about inclusion in the retail industry, Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, RetailersAssociation of India (RAI) said, “We, at Retailers Association of India, are proud to witnessthe industry's growing commitment to inclusivity, especially as we co-organize the EKAMSummit with TRRAIN. This summit symbolizes focus towards embracing diversity andinclusion. The retail sector has always been an industry with high diversity in the kind ofpeople that are employed. We acknowledge that while progress has been made, muchremains to be done. Our goal is not just to discuss the necessity of inclusion but to actively drive actionable strategies that integrate people with disabilities and marginalizedcommunities into the workforce.”
Speaking about the Summit, Ameesha Prabhu, Co-Founder and CEO, Trust forRetailers and Retail Associates of India said, “Since inception, TRRAIN has remained steadfast in its commitment of empowering Persons with Disabilities. Our core objective has consistently revolved around equipping Persons with Disabilities with retail specific skills andopportunities, enabling them to thrive in customer service jobs across industries. Till date, TRRAIN has skilled over 25000+ Persons with Disabilities and 9000+ young women from marginalised backgrounds and provided them with sustainable livelihoods. With placements of our beneficiaries through our channel of 1500+ recruiters, TRRAIN aims to continue buildingan inclusive and equitable community.”
Rekha Sharma, the Chairperson for the National Commission for Women added, "As the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, I am honoured to be a part of theEKAM Summit, a pivotal initiative by the Retailers Association of India and TRRAIN. Thissummit is not just an event; it's a beacon of hope and a catalyst for profound change. Itrepresents our collective endeavour to build a retail industry and a society that valuesdiversity, equity, and inclusion.”
Speaking about the Summit, B. S. Nagesh, Founder TRRAIN, said “Over the past 12transformative years, TRRAIN and RAI, was a vision we brought to life. TRRAIN has beenunswervingly committed to the noble cause of empowering Persons with Disabilities andyoung women from marginalised backgrounds, whereas, RAI are the stalwarts in supportingand advancing the retail industry in the country. Together, they have turned our vision intoreality, and being the driving force in bridging the gap between social impact and retailexcellence. Ekam – All Inclusive Summit embodies a shared commitment, fostering acollective movement across diverse industries, aiming to transform mind-sets, companypolicies, and cultivate safe, inclusive ecosystems.”
Despite the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment reporting 2.21% of the Indian population with disabilities in the 2011 Census, the retail sector, the second-largest employer after agriculture, employs less than 1% of its workforce from the pool of people with disabilities. This is in stark contrast to a doubling of this number in the past year, highlighting the need for industry-wide initiatives discussed at the EKAM Summit 2023.
