EKAM Summit 2023 sparks Retail Revolution for Inclusion

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) and TRRAIN (Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India) collaborated to host the inaugural EKAM – All Inclusion Summit 2023 on December 5 at the Hotel Taj Santacruz in Mumbai. The summit, themed 'Fostering Inclusion: Celebrating Differences, Driving Social Change,' aimed to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the retail sector.
Ameesha Prabhu, Co-Founder and CEO of Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India, emphasized the summit's role in initiating crucial dialogues on inclusivity. She highlighted its potential to catalyze tangible changes, focusing on sensitizing, rewarding, and institutionalizing inclusion for young women, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQI members.
Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of Retailers Association of India, drew parallels between the summit's mission and the collaborative success portrayed in the film 'Lagaan.' He encouraged recognizing and celebrating unique strengths within individuals, stressing that diversity enriches both personal and professional aspects of life.
Rekha Sharma, Chairperson for the National Commission for Women, delivered the keynote address, praising the discussions on gender equality, inclusion, and diversity. She aligned India's celebration of diversity with the principles of 'anekta mein ekta' and 'Vasudev Kutumbakam,' emphasizing the industry's role in empowering women and fostering inclusive growth.
BS Nagesh, Founder of TRRAIN, shared the transformative impact of inclusivity in the retail sector, urging industry-wide participation to uplift diverse communities and create economic opportunities. Eminent speakers included leaders such as Arman Ali, Leenika Khattar, Damodar Mall, and others, discussing various aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The Summit touched on key topics like culture building strategies, building inclusivity from the ground up, unleashing the potential of persons with disabilities, and designing inclusive retail spaces. The discussions aimed to enhance awareness, facilitate learning, and promote collaboration to drive positive change in the retail industry.
Aradhana Lal, Senior VP at Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd., highlighted the importance of organizational readiness for disability inclusion, while Tejaswini Nigam from Pepe Jeans India Ltd. emphasized the need to consciously consider differently-abled customers in store design.
Alex Mathew, Senior VP at Landmark Group, praised the EKAM Summit as an eye-opener and a platform for exchanging ideas and initiatives. Despite the growing number of people with disabilities in the country, the Indian retail sector employs less than 1% of its workforce from this pool, a statistic addressed by the summit.
Supported by Titan Company as Presenting Partners, the EKAM Summit symbolizes the beginning of a series of impactful gatherings, underlining the ongoing conversation on inclusivity as an essential aspect of everyday life within the retail sector.