Dunzo, a Bengaluru-based hyperlocal and q-commerce brand in India, has recently introduced “Project Swabhimaan.” This initiative offers financial literacy training to Dunzo’s delivery partners and store pickers in partnership with Parinaam Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on urban low-income communities.
According to a statement from the start-up, women participating in the training will gain access to valuable information enabling them to make informed financial decisions. This will positively impact their long-term financial well-being, regardless of their association with Dunzo.
Dunzo aims to train over 100 women this year, and their objective is to eventually make this training an essential part of onboarding for all their partners.
Dunzo asserts that individuals employed in the informal sector or working as independent workers lack the same level of support and guidance regarding financial literacy and inclusion compared to those in the private sector. According to Dunzo, their training program in collaboration with Parinaam Foundation is a significant stride toward fostering financial inclusion among gig economy workers. Since 2012, Parinaam Foundation has certified 927,005 beneficiaries as Rupee Rani (Women).
Ankit Shah, AVP of City and Supply Operations, Dunzo, said, “At Dunzo, we prioritise the overall well-being of our women delivery partners and store executives. This is a learning of a lifetime that will truly benefit them. Financial literacy is a life skill and we don’t pay as much attention to it as we should. We wanted to do something that has a direct impact on the earnings of our women delivery partners. One is to offer fair wages, which we do. The other is to give them the understanding needed to create a habit of saving and growing their wealth. We’ve started with training about 35 women, which is close to 10% of our women partner network.”
Dunzo, launched in 2015, is a convenience app that connects customers with nearby delivery partners. It facilitates purchases and pickups from stores and restaurants, and has expanded to include Dunzo Daily for online grocery ordering and Dunzo for Business for merchants. Operating in eight cities currently, Dunzo aims to expand its reach even further.
