Sun Pharma, India's largest pharmaceutical company, has launched an Entrepreneurship Development Program in Vadodara. It is partnering with the NGO Udyogwardhini Shikshan Sanstha, which is dedicated to entrepreneurship training. The program aims to equip women from low-income backgrounds with essential skills and resources to establish successful small enterprises.
The pilot project targets 100 women and includes six weeks of intensive training which covers classroom sessions teaching foundational business concepts, industry visits to offer real-world business operation experiences, and practical exercises building business confidence. The program offers participants comprehensive business mindset training, market surveys, and financial linkages in trades like apparel, food processing, and delivery services.
Sun Pharma's post-training support system offers one year of mentorship to women entrepreneurs, ensuring business sustainability and growth. This program empowers women to become financially independent and strengthens the local economy, potentially leading to expansion to other regions.
AVP and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Sun Pharma, Mr. Chandrashekhar Gowda mentioned "At Sun Pharma, we believe that business and responsibility go hand-in-hand. Investing in women's business and responsibility go hand-in-hand. By investing in women from underserved communities, we aim to create livelihood opportunities, we aim to create livelihood opportunities that build resilient families and foster self-reliance. This is a pilot project, and we plan to scale it up based on its outcomes."
