Zomato's Project Arya: Empowering Women in Logistics

Zomato revealed its aim to train 10,000 women for participation in logistics at a closed-door roundtable in New Delhi. The initiative is part of Zomato's Project Arya, focusing on gender inclusion. Discussions highlighted the challenges women face in gig work and proposed solutions for better engagement in last-mile logistics.

Zomato recently announced a goal to train 10,000 women to participate in logistics, a move aimed at empowering women through collaboration with non-profits and skilling sectors. The announcement was made at the 'Women in Logistics' roundtable at Le Meridien, New Delhi, bringing together industry stakeholders such as representatives from NGOs like Pratham and Azad Foundation, impact consulting firms like FSG and Give Grants, and logistics companies like Porter and Mahindra Logistics.

This target is part of Zomato’s broader commitment to gender inclusion through its flagship initiative, Project Arya. Launched in 2021, the project aims to break gender barriers by providing women with the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in logistics. As part of this initiative, Zomato has already onboarded over 2500 women into its delivery fleet and is pushing for 20% women representation in its warehouses by the end of 2024.

The conference discussed the hurdles women face in gig work, such as safety concerns and access to training. Anjalli Ravi Kumar, Chief Sustainability Officer at Zomato, emphasized the importance of creating flexible and lucrative job opportunities for women. Stakeholders shared innovative solutions to improve women’s participation in last-mile logistics, with a shared belief in the sector's growth potential.