Tata Communications, EDII Launch Women-Led Retail Store in Alibaug

Maharashtra, September 2026: Tata Communications and the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) have inaugurated Udaya Bazaar, a retail store in Alibaug showcasing products made by women entrepreneurs and persons with disabilities (PwDs).

The store, inaugurated by Shri Sachin Dhole, Additional District Collector, is the first multi-speciality retail outlet established under Project UDAYA, a Tata Communications CSR initiative implemented in partnership with EDII. It aims to provide market access to grassroots entrepreneurs and support their transition from enterprise creation to greater market participation and economic independence.

Udaya Bazaar will be managed by a Women Entrepreneurs Association formed by participants of the project. The model is intended to create a women-led community institution while providing entrepreneurs with a platform to sell locally manufactured products.

Project UDAYA promotes entrepreneurship among women from SC/ST communities, Self Help Group (SHG) members and PwDs, with a focus on sustainable income generation through enterprise creation.

The project has expanded across Pune, Raigad and Ratnagiri districts in Maharashtra, covering 126 villages across 25 blocks, including remote and underserved areas. It has trained more than 1,650 women entrepreneurs and supported the establishment of over 950 women- and PwD-led micro-enterprises.

Products developed through the initiative include food and snacks, handicrafts, textiles and apparel, wellness and personal care products, home décor and other locally made goods.

A Tata Communications spokesperson said, "At Tata Communications, we believe that businesses thrive when communities thrive. Our approach to community engagement goes beyond short-term interventions. We view our CSR programmes as long-term investments that strengthen communities, build resilience, and create pathways to shared prosperity. This commitment is reflected in our CSR initiatives, which impacted over 11.2 lakh lives in FY26. We are happy to offer women and PwD a platform to celebrate their confidence, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit. Their success will pave the way for the expansion of this model to newer markets and communities. Through structured, outcome-driven interventions, we aim to create impact that is meaningful, scalable, and lasting."

Dr. Prakash Solanki, Associate Professor and Project Director, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, said, "We are immensely proud of what we have built in partnership with Tata Communications. This store is far more than a retail outlet. It is a symbol of empowerment, inclusion, and local economic growth. Every shelf, every product, and every purchase reflects the aspirations, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit of women who are creating brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities."

The launch of Udaya Bazaar adds a market-access component to Project UDAYA’s entrepreneurship and livelihood interventions, with the store providing a direct channel for participating entrepreneurs to reach consumers.