Tata Communications and EDII Launch first retail store to strengthen women-led entrepreneurship

The project was inaugurated by Shri. Sachin Dhole, Additional District Collector

Key Takeaways

• Tata Communications and EDII opened Udaya Bazaar, the first multi-category retail outlet under Project UDAYA, in Alibaug, Maharashtra.
• The store sells goods made by women entrepreneurs and persons with disabilities (PwDs) to give them direct market exposure.
• Project UDAYA targets women from Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, Self Help Group members and PwDs, aiming to build lasting income sources.
• The outlet will be run by a Women Entrepreneurs Association formed from the project’s own participants.

Project UDAYA, a CSR initiative of Tata Communications undertaken jointly with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), hit a key milestone today with the opening of a specialized retail outlet in Alibaug, Maharashtra. This store, the first multi‑category outlet under the project, displays goods made by women entrepreneurs and persons with disabilities (PwDs) and is intended to give grassroots entrepreneurs market exposure while helping them move toward stronger financial self‑sufficiency.

The initiative focuses on fostering entrepreneurship among women belonging to Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, members of Self Help Groups, and persons with disabilities, aiming to generate lasting income by helping them set up businesses. The retail outlet, called Udaya Bazaar, is a collaborative CSR effort by Tata Communications and EDII, and will be run by a Women Entrepreneurs Association made up of the project’s participants, underscoring the goal of building women‑led institutions and community leadership.

This store represents a critical step forward, allowing women and PwDs to progress past basic training and business formation to achieve broader market involvement and financial autonomy.

Over the years, Project Udaya by Tata Communications has:

• It has broadened its reach across Maharashtra, operating in the districts of Pune, Raigad and Ratnagiri, spanning 126 villages in 25 blocks, many of which are remote or underserved.
• The program has provided training to over 1,650 women entrepreneurs and helped set up more than 950 micro‑enterprises led by women and persons with disabilities.
• It has also bolstered the local economy by developing products in categories such as food processing, handicrafts, textiles, wellness, home décor and other locally produced items.

A Tata Communications spokesperson said, “We are convinced that businesses flourish when the communities they serve do. Our community work goes beyond quick fixes; we treat CSR as a long‑term investment that builds stronger, more resilient communities and opens routes to shared prosperity. This philosophy is evident in our CSR efforts, which reached more than 11.2 lakh people in FY26. We are pleased to give women and persons with disabilities a stage to showcase their confidence, determination and entrepreneurial drive. Their achievements will enable us to roll out this model to fresh markets and groups. By designing interventions that are results‑focused, we strive to deliver impact that matters, can grow and endures over time.”

Dr. Prakash Solanki, Associate Professor and Project Director at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, said, “Our partnership with Tata Communications has yielded something truly special. This store is not simply a place to shop; it stands as a beacon of empowerment, inclusion and local economic vitality. Each item on its shelves embodies the hopes, tenacity and entrepreneurial zeal of women who are forging better lives for themselves, their families and their wider community.”

The outlet showcases a variety of locally produced goods, such as food and snacks, handmade crafts, textiles and clothing, wellness and personal care items, decorative home accessories, and additional lifestyle products.

Tata Communications bases its community work on promoting women’s economic participation by encouraging their involvement in local economies via entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods. The store exemplifies this principle as the company continues to provide women with the abilities, tools and market opportunities required to develop robust, income‑generating businesses that enhance their financial independence.