No place for sweatshops in Telangana, says KTR

Hyderabad: The private sector must have socially responsible behaviour and there shall be no place for sweatshops in Telangana, says State Industries & Commerce Minister KT Rama Rao, while addressing a gathering at the launch ceremony of Flipkart’s new fulfillment center in Sanga Reddy on Tuesday.

He virtually inaugurated the new centre in the presence of Industries & Commerce Principal Secretary Jayesh Ranjan, Flipkart Group CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy, Group Head of Supply Chain and Customer Experience Hemant Badri and its Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Rajneesh Kumar.

As Flipkart Group strengthens its supply chain infrastructure in the State, the Minister asked the Flipkart management team to provide good facilities at their warehouses and fulfillment centers before enrolling the staff, particularly the women employees. "I look forward to a wonderful e-commerce journey,” he said.

On the occasion, KTR said: "As the companies grow, it is important and imperative to create a two-way street where the private sector gives equitable opportunities to the workers. The government is also ensuring quality and compliance standards in terms of infrastructure, work hours, wages and whether their day-to-day needs are met.

“Today, there are many facilities in the IT and corporate offices. Something similar must happen in every office. There shall be no sweatshops in the State. Let Telangana be the leader in making a compelling statement in gig economy, gig jobs and e-commerce,” he said, asking the private sector to flourish in the State while being socially responsible.

Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, has expanded its footprint in Telangana and strengthened its supply chain infrastructure with the launch of a new fulfillment center (FC) in Sangareddy. The new fulfillment center was virtually inaugurated by KT Rama Rao, Minister for Industries & Commerce, and Information Technology of Telangana.

Spread over 4 lakh square feet, the FC will further Flipkart’s commitment to India’s digital commerce evolution by empowering local sellers, employable youth, and customers while making e-commerce more inclusive and accessible. The new FC will support the delivery and logistics of a wide range of product categories, offered by thousands of local sellers and MSMEs in Telangana.

To date, Flipkart’s e-commerce platform has empowered more than 14,000 sellers in the state to join the mainstream economy and cater to the rising consumer demand in the country. Flipkart’s supply chain operations have also contributed to the growth of Telangana’s economy by creating over 40,000 direct and indirect jobs.

On the occasion, Flipkart Group CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy says, “Today, e-commerce creates equitable opportunities for small and large businesses alike, helping reach millions of customers nationwide. In line with our commitment to the country's economic progress, we have made important investments across India through upskilling opportunities, infrastructure, and technological advancements.”

“Over the years, we have made significant investments in Telangana to create growth opportunities for sellers, MSMEs, artisans, kiranas, and our ecosystem partners. We hope that the new facility will give a further boost to entrepreneurs in the State and strengthen their integration with the national market. We will continue leveraging the power of technology and infrastructure to accelerate growth,” he adds.

Some of Flipkart’s key investments in Telangana include the establishment of 6 fulfillment centers for making millions of products, including home appliances, furniture, large appliances, and Grocery available.