####Hindustan Zinc takes rural women-led brand DAICHI to Blinkit, Modern Bazaar

• 26,800+ women empowered; handcrafted products by rural women enter Delhi NCR through organized retail and quick commerce platforms
• ₹2.6 crore enterprise scales as 400+ women-led products enter urban retail channels

Udaipur,  Hindustan Zinc, India’s only and the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, has continued to enable and empower rural women from Rajasthan under its Sakhi and Sakhi Microenterprise initiative. In a significant milestone, its microenterprise brand DAICHI has launched products across leading retail and quick commerce platforms, including Modern Bazaar stores across Delhi NCR and Blinkit in Delhi.

The brand, DAICHI – The Best from Rural India, features a diverse portfolio of high-quality FMCG products including pickles, honey, spices, pulses, namkeen, oil and ghee handcrafted and managed by rural women entrepreneurs. This expansion into organized retail marks a pivotal step in connecting grassroots producers with urban consumers.

Speaking on the development, Hindustan Zinc’s CEO & Whole-time Director Mr Arun Misra said: “At Hindustan Zinc, we believe the future of growth lies in inclusion at scale. We are committed to building scalable, women-led enterprises that move beyond local boundaries to become part of mainstream retail ecosystems. DAICHI’s entry into organized retail and quick commerce marks a step towards creating sustainable livelihoods, strengthening grassroots communities, and driving long-term, inclusive social impact.”

The Sakhi Initiative under Hindustan Zinc’s rural livelihoods programme has empowered 26,800+ women through grassroots institutions such as federations, village organizations, SHGs, and MSMEs. Additionally, 300+ Sakhi-led committees and federation managers are driving grassroots leadership by strengthening community institutions through monitoring, livelihood promotion, and awareness-building.

The microenterprise programme has grown from 5 stitching units with 81 women and 86 products in 2018–19 to 14 production units with 400+ women and over 300 products across food and textile categories, generating ₹2.60 crore in revenue in FY26. The brand has also established its dedicated e-commerce platform, Heartswithfingers, complementing its presence on leading marketplaces such as Amazon, Flipkart, and ONDC, tapping into growing digital adoption and expanding consumer reach.

The programme has gained national recognition, winning four prestigious awards, including honours from Business World, Mahatma, and Skoch for excellence in women empowerment. It has further enhanced visibility through platforms such as IITF and Jaipur Literature Festival, alongside the launch of its textile collection under Upaya. Notably, the Didi’s made their debut at Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda Festival, achieving a sell-out within four days.

With increasing consumer preference for quick commerce, the onboarding of DAICHI products on Modern Bazaar and Blinkit marks a strategic shift towards mainstream retail unlocking new growth avenues and strengthening market linkages for women-led enterprises. Following its launch across Delhi NCR, the initiative plans to expand into additional markets. Through the Sakhi and Sakhi Microenterprise initiatives, Hindustan Zinc continues to drive women-led development by creating sustainable livelihoods, strengthening grassroots institutions, and enabling rural communities to participate in broader economic growth.

Hindustan Zinc continues to advance its vision of holistic community development through various social interventions and community development initiatives, nurturing education, building skills, enabling sustainable livelihoods, empowering women, strengthening healthcare, and preserving the environment. With a footprint that spans over 2,300 villages, Hindustan Zinc is positively transforming the lives of more than 23 lakh people and remains deeply committed to fostering inclusive growth and long-term social impact.

About Hindustan Zinc

Hindustan Zinc Limited (BSE: 500188 and NSE: HINDZINC), a Vedanta Group company, is the world’s largest integrated zinc producer and is amongst the top 5 silver producers globally. The company supplies to more than 40 countries and holds a market share of about 75% of the primary zinc market in India. Hindustan Zinc has been recognized as the world’s most sustainable company in the metals and mining category for the third consecutive year by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2025, reflecting its operational excellence, innovation, and leading ESG practices. The company also became the first Indian company to join the prestigious International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM) in 2025. The company also launched EcoZen, Asia’s first low carbon ‘green’ zinc brand, produced using renewable energy. Hindustan Zinc is also a certified 3.32 times Water-Positive company and is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. Transforming the lives of 2.3 million people through its focused social welfare initiatives, Hindustan Zinc is among the Top 10 CSR companies in India. As an energy transition metals company, Hindustan Zinc is pivotal in the journey of sourcing critical metals essential for a sustainable future