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·     26,800+ women empowered; handcrafted products by rural women enter Delhi NCR through organized retail and quick commerce platforms

·     ₹2.6 crore enterprise scales as 400+ women-led products enter urban retail channels

Hindustan Zinc, India’s only and the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, has continued to enable and empower rural women from Rajasthan under its Sakhi and Sakhi Microenterprise initiative. In a significant milestone, its microenterprise brand DAICHI has launched products across leading retail and quick commerce platforms, including Modern Bazaar stores across Delhi NCR and Blinkit in Delhi.

The brand, DAICHI – The Best from Rural India, features a diverse portfolio of high-quality FMCG products including pickles, honey, spices, pulses, namkeen, oil and ghee handcrafted and managed by rural women entrepreneurs. This expansion into organized retail marks a pivotal step in connecting grassroots producers with urban consumers.

Speaking on the development, Hindustan Zinc’s CEO & Whole-time Director Mr Arun Misra said: “At Hindustan Zinc, we believe the future of growth lies in inclusion at scale. We are committed to building scalable, women-led enterprises that move beyond local boundaries to become part of mainstream retail ecosystems. DAICHI’s entry into organized retail and quick commerce marks a step towards creating sustainable livelihoods, strengthening grassroots communities, and driving long-term, inclusive social impact.”

The Sakhi Initiative under Hindustan Zinc’s rural livelihoods programme has empowered 26,800+ women through grassroots institutions such as federations, village organizations, SHGs, and MSMEs. Additionally, 300+ Sakhi-led committees and federation managers are driving grassroots leadership by strengthening community institutions through monitoring, livelihood promotion, and awareness-building.

The microenterprise programme has grown from 5 stitching units with 81 women and 86 products in 2018–19 to 14 production units with 400+ women and over 300 products across food and textile categories, generating ₹2.60 crore in revenue in FY26. The brand has also established its dedicated e-commerce platform, Heartswithfingers, complementing its presence on leading marketplaces such as Amazon, Flipkart, and ONDC, tapping into growing digital adoption and expanding consumer reach.

The programme has gained national recognition, winning four prestigious awards, including honours from Business World, Mahatma, and Skoch for excellence in women empowerment. It has further enhanced visibility through platforms such as IITF and Jaipur Literature Festival, alongside the launch of its textile collection under Upaya. Notably, the Didi’s made their debut at Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda Festival, achieving a sell-out within four days.

With increasing consumer preference for quick commerce, the onboarding of DAICHI products on Modern Bazaar and Blinkit marks a strategic shift towards mainstream retail unlocking new growth avenues and strengthening market linkages for women-led enterprises. Following its launch across Delhi NCR, the initiative plans to expand into additional markets. Through the Sakhi and Sakhi Microenterprise initiatives, Hindustan Zinc continues to drive women-led development by creating sustainable livelihoods, strengthening grassroots institutions, and enabling rural communities to participate in broader economic growth.

Hindustan Zinc continues to advance its vision of holistic community development through various social interventions and community development initiatives, nurturing education, building skills, enabling sustainable livelihoods, empowering women, strengthening healthcare, and preserving the environment. With a footprint that spans over 2,300 villages, Hindustan Zinc is positively transforming the lives of more than 23 lakh people and remains deeply committed to fostering inclusive growth and long-term social impact.