ONDC adds 300 retailers and 400 women entrepreneurs to its network, ET Retail

The government’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) announced on Monday that it plans to empower 300 sellers and 400 women entrepreneurs by adding them to its e-commerce network.

The 300 vendors were from six clusters across India, including Lucknow (Chikankari), Moradabad (brassware), Kanchipuram (Kanchipuram saris), Varanasi (Benarasi saris), Khurja (pottery), Bargarh (Sambhalpuri saris) and were launched digitally in partnership with Small Business Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

While most of the sellers are new to digital, they have achieved a significant milestone in their digitalisation journey. For example, 9 sellers from Kanchipuram achieved sales of Rs 21 lakh within 10 months of implementation, with over 180 orders in total, which was earlier 10-12 orders per month, ONDC said.

“If most of the participating artisans, women entrepreneurs and social enterprises are entering the e-commerce ecosystem for the first time, it simply highlights the gaps in the existing infrastructure and its capabilities that are only accessible to a select few,” said T. Koshy, Managing Director and CEO, ONDC.

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Open Network has also made a concerted effort to empower women entrepreneurs by bringing together around 400 women-owned businesses across India. Together, these businesses support income-generating opportunities for over 50 lakh women.

These include homegrown brands like Kudumbashree, Jharcraft, UBUNTU Consortium, SEWA Federation, Mann Deshi Foundation, Tea Trunk, Cinnamon Closet, Tamul, Creyo, Shwet India, Anubhuthi Experiences, Sarmaya, Satmya, Amrutam and Rangasutra, which support women artisans.

In addition, individual craft clusters such as the Kanchipuram cluster from Tamil Nadu and the Chikankari cluster from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh have also joined the Network.

Recognising the importance of social enterprises in promoting sustainable development, the ONDC Network has onboarded over 30 social enterprises in the past year, including Itokri, Okhai, Rangsutra, Gulaab Jaipur, Very Much India, Gaon Se, Kalapuri and Iraaloom.

In addition, ONDC has brought on board 50 social sector vendors with Geographical Indication (GI) status and exhibiting at the India International Fair Trade, further expanding the reach and influence of these socially conscious businesses.

“The Open Web effectively bridges such gaps by creating a level playing field for all merchants, regardless of their size or background. We are driving economic empowerment with an anchor of equitable distribution of growth opportunities,” Koshy said.

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