Gurugram, February 6, 2024: Urban Company, a leading marketplace for on-demand home services in Asia, has rolled out Project Nidar to support its service professionals facing domestic violence and abuse. This project encompasses all active service partners on the platform, providing them with awareness, assistance, and resources during challenging times.
In collaboration with the Invisible Scars Foundation, an NGO dedicated to aiding survivors of gender-based violence, Urban Company will offer counseling, legal aid, and emergency lodging support to affected service partners. Additionally, the company will extend medical support beyond the existing insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh and provide financial assistance of up to Rs 50,000 to those seeking help. This policy applies to all active service partners across Urban Company's platform in India.
To enhance awareness about domestic violence and the support available, Urban Company will release a series of educational videos accessible through the Urban Company Partner App. These videos will cover various aspects of domestic violence, including types of abuse, reporting procedures, and the support services provided by Urban Company.
“Urban Company is a people-first organization and the well-being of our Service Partners is one of our core priorities. We recognize the deep and lasting psychological impact of domestic violence and abuse, and want to set up a robust support system for our service partners. Women comprise about 35% of our partner fleet which makes ’Project Nidar’ even more critical and has been carefully crafted with gender experts to not only provide tangible medical and financial support, but also raise awareness about domestic violence and abuse.”, said Abhiraj Singh Bhal, CEO and Co-founder, Urban Company.
"We applaud Urban Company for their courageous move with the workplace domestic violence policy and Project Nidar initiative. In a society where domestic violence is considered a private issue, Urban Company emerges as a visionary brand, creating a safe and empowered environment for partners. Their remarkable effort sets a benchmark, inspiring others to prioritise workforce well-being. This initiative reflects Urban Company's commitment to addressing domestic violence in the workplace, and we are proud to be their implementation partner for this," said Ekta Viiveck Verma, Founder, Invisible Scars Foundation.
Gender-based violence is a pervasive issue, particularly affecting women in the beauty and wellness sector. Research indicates that one in three women in India may have experienced intimate partner violence, with only a fraction formally reporting it. Acknowledging the urgency of addressing this issue, Urban Company has initiated Project Nidar to foster a safe environment for its service partners, empowering them to recognize signs of abuse and access essential support services.
