From the Margins to the Mainstream
How Retail Training Sparked Dignity, Confidence, and Change for 54 Women in Nashik
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The Starting Point: A Community Overlooked
In the crowded lanes of Sanjeev Nagar, Nashik, survival has always outweighed dreams.
Average household income: under ₹20,000 a month
Families: largely daily-wage earners with no financial security
Women: confined to unpaid domestic work, with little chance to break out
Generational poverty and restrictive social norms kept women on the sidelines, even as their families struggled to make ends meet.
Unlocking Hidden Potential
The goal was bold yet simple: equip women with skills to earn with dignity, uplift their families, and inspire their communities.
From September 2024 to March 2025, 54 women completed a 200-hour Retail Sales Associate program (NSQF Level 4), a curriculum blending retail know-how with life skills that change how women see themselves.
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The Program: Training for Work and for Life
This wasn’t just training. It was preparation for the real world.
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Soft Skills That Change Lives
Professional presence: posture, voice, first impressions
Communication & conflict resolution
Goal-setting, confidence, and resilience
Teamwork, time management, adaptability
Retail Skills That Drive Jobs
Customer engagement & sales persuasion
Handling billing, credit, and post-sales queries
Store hygiene, safety, and security
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Learning in Action
Industrial visits to D’Mart for live exposure
Mock interviews & external assessments
Placement drives with leading retail employers
Outcomes That Speak
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Top employers
Go Fashion, FirstCry, Royal Garments, Shubham Textiles, Swayamsiddh Foundation
108%
128%
89%
45.37%
₹9,500
₹16,000
Families now have new financial stability and the ability to invest in children’s education.
Communities are seeing gender norms quietly shift as women step into the workforce.
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54
women who were once invisible now have formal jobs
Faces of Change
These are not just individual stories, they’re proof of what happens when opportunity meets determination.
Family income grew from ₹21,000 to ₹30,000/month
“For the first time, I feel proud to be earning and supporting my daughter’s future.”
Family income grew from ₹21,000 to ₹30,000/month
“For the first time, I feel proud to be earning and supporting my daughter’s future.”
Family income grew from ₹21,000 to ₹30,000/month
“For the first time, I feel proud to be earning and supporting my daughter’s future.”
Faces of Change
These are not just individual stories, they’re proof of what happens when opportunity meets determination.
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For Women
A new identity, self-respect, and the courage to lead
For Families
Better food, education for children, healthcare access, and savings
For Communities
Over 90% of women reinvest their income locally, fueling economic growth
For Industry
A pool of resilient, motivated, and customer-ready talent in the retail sector
Looking Ahead
Because empowering one woman transforms a family.
Empowering hundreds transforms a community.
And scaling this model has the power to transform an entire generation.
Local Action with Global Relevance
SDG 1 – No Poverty
45% income growth broke generational poverty cycles
SDG 4 – Quality Education
200+ hours of certified training prepared women for sustainable careers
SDG 5 – Gender Equality
First-time access to dignified work reshaped household decision-making
SDG 8 – Decent Work and Growth
48 placements into formal jobs fueled inclusive economic growth
SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
Targeted marginalized women from OBC, SC/ST, and tribal groups
SDG 17 – Partnerships
A corporate–nonprofit collaboration scaled for social and business value
