India's Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has added 300 new sellers and 400 women entrepreneurs to its network, aiming to improve inclusivity and provide more opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The move aims to bridge the gender gap in digital commerce, diversify products and services, support small businesses, and digitize commerce in India.
The inclusion is expected to positively impact the Indian economy by prompting entrepreneurship, enhancing market competition, and creating job opportunities. ONDC has added 300 new sellers from six different Indian clusters, including Lucknow (Chikankari), Moradabad (Brassware), Kanchipuram (Kanchipuram Sarees), Varanasi (Benarasi Sarees), Khurja (Pottery), and Bargarh (Sambhalpuri Sarees), to its digital network. The initiative partnered with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), has helped many sellers become digital players.
ONDC has also onboarded around 400 women-led businesses, supporting over 50 lakh women's livelihoods. The network includes home-grown brands such as Kudumbashree, Jharcraft, UBUNTU Consortium, SEWA Federation, Mann Deshi Foundation, Tea Trunk, Cinnamon Closet, Tamul, Creyo, Shwet India, Anubhuti Experiences, Sarmaya, Satmaya, Amrutam, and Rangasutra, and artisan clusters including the Kanchipuram cluster from Tamil Nadu and the Chikankari cluster from Lucknow. It has additionally integrated over 30 social organizations promoting sustainable development.
